He's now Dr Abdul Razak Baginda

Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda has finally got his doctorate degree in international relations from Oxford University.

The man who was charged, and later acquitted, for abetment in the murder of his Mongolian lover, Altantuya Shaariibuu, has been awarded a doctorate of philosophy after a long delay due to his incarceration.

With that, he is now called Dr Abdul Razak and he plans to continue his research in international relations.

The former confidant of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is also writing a book about his life, in particular his 22-month ordeal in Sungai Buloh prison where he was held during the trial.

Abdul Razak, 49, told Bernama that he submitted his doctorate dissertation three years ago but the university put it on hold after his arrest two months later.

“When I was acquitted and released from prison on Oct 31 last year, I wrote back to the university, they revived the whole process and early this year they told me that I had passed and been awarded the Doctorate of Philosophy (Dphil).”

He will stay put in Britain

In October, Abdul Razak said he would take up an appointment as a senior associate member at St Anthony’s College in Oxford.

“There have been very few Malaysians who made it to Oxford, fewer still who obtained DPhil and even fewer among them are Malays,” he said.

Two members of the crack Special Action Forces - chief inspector Azilah Hadri, 33, and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 37 - had been found guilty for the murdered of Altantuya and sentenced to death.

They have since lodged an appeal in the Court of Appeal against the conviction and sentence.