The Court of Appeal will convene for three days, beginning June 10, to hear an appeal by two former police Special Action Unit personnel in connection with the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.

Lawyer Kitson Foong, representing former corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, said Court of Appeal deputy registrar Darmafikri Abu Adam had informed the prosecution and defence in the case that Court of Appeal president Md Raus Sharif had given instructions that the appeal be heard on June 10 until June 12.

He said since the hearing dates fell within the court vacation period, a special panel would be convened to hear the appeal.

He also told reporters that both the prosecution and defence were required to file their written submissions two weeks before June 10.

altantuya razak baginda mongolian murder 190607 arrival During court vacation, there is no court proceedings to hear appeals but judges are given time to complete their grounds of judgment or to deliver judgments.

The appeal came up before Darmafikri today for case management to have the hearing dates finalised.

Deputy public prosecutor Tengku Intan Suraya Tengku Ismail appeared for the prosecution while lawyer Hazman Ahmad represented former chief inspector Azilah Hadri.

Sirul Azhar, 39, and Azilah, 34, were convicted and sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court in 2009 for killing Altantuya, 28, at Mukim Bukit Raja in Shah Alam between 10pm on Oct 19, 2006 and 1am on Oct 20, 2006.

Former political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, 50, who was charged with abetting them, was acquitted by the High Court on Oct 31, 2008 after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

- Bernama

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