Court restores conviction of Altantuya murderers, but Sirul abroad

KUALA LUMPUR - Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, one of two former Special Action Unit (UTK) personnel convicted of the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, is believed to be in Australia and reportedly, has no money to return to Malaysia.

According to a source, Kpl Sirul, who was not present in court on Tuesday, knew that the Federal Court would be delivering its judgment on the day but did not have enough funds to return home.

The source said the former UTK officer had gone abroad two months ago.

When asked by Bernama whether Kpl Sirul’s no-show was because he had anticipated Tuesday’s verdict, the source said, “(The verdict) is not something that can be expected but however it was necessary for Sirul Azhar to be overseas.”

Federal Court Judge Suriyadi Halim Omar, who read out the judgement, said the court set aside the acquittal of C/Insp Azilah Hadri, 38, and Kpl Sirul, 43, for the murder of Altantuya and restored the decision of the Shah Alam High Court which had found them guilty of the murder and sentenced them to death.

In a unanimous decision, the court allowed the prosecution's appeal to set aside the Court of Appeal’s 2013 decision acquitting the two officers.

The five-member panel was chaired by Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria. The other judges were Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum and Federal Court judges Abdull Hamid Embong and Ahmad Maarop. – Bernama