Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has expressed disappointment with the Court of Appeal for not ordering a re-trial into the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

"Surely justice requires a retrial of the case so that we know the truth. Now, no one will ever know why Altantuya was killed,” Zaid said in a Twitter posting.

"How else will we know why key witnesses (were) not called, why such shoddy prosecution...

NONE "I am disappointed with the Court of Appeal judges. Not for acquittal but for failing to order a retrial," he added.

Zaid, who established the country's largest law firm, Zaid Ibrahim & Co, said that an alternative for the government now is to order a public inquiry into the matter.

"(This will) restore confidence of (the public) in both the police and prosecutors' office," he said in another posting.

However, constitutional lawyer Syahredzan Johan argued against ordering a retrial, saying that it would be ‘highly prejudicial’ to the accused.

“You should not order a retrial because the prosecution screwed up. That is like giving the prosecution a second bite at the cherry,” Syahredzan said on Twitter .

However, Zaid later told KiniTV that the ultimate goal should be for the deceased to get justice.

"If the prosecution has failed, that does not mean justice should not be done.

"Which one is more important? Blaming the prosecution or getting justice for Altantuya?" he said.

Independent inquiry

Echoing Zaid's position was DAP's Puchong MP Gobind Deo Singh, who is also a practising lawyer.

Gobind called for the independent inquiry to focus on the conduct of the prosecution in the Altantuya case.

This is in light of the prosecution's failure to call a material witness, DSP Musa Safri, who was aide-de-camp to then deputy prime minister and defence minister Najib Abdul Razak, for this led to the acquittal of the two accused of Altantuya's murder.

NONE "Many questions have arisen. Of the most serious is concern is whether or not there have been proper investigations and a proper presentation of evidence in court. We cannot allow these concerns to go unanswered.

"There must be an independent inquiry, by people who are not associated with the Attorney-General's Chambers, to review the investigation papers and to report back as to the propriety of the conduct of the prosecution in this case," Gobind ( left ) said in a statement today.

He warned that following the collapse of the Altantuya case, there was serious concern about the negative perception of the Attorney-General's Chambers.

The Court of Appeal today overturned the High Court decision that convicted Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar of the Special Action Unit of Altantuya’s murder.

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