Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin believes that the Federal Court found his client Sirul Azhar Umar guilty and sentenced him to death for the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu on matters that could be incorrect.

However, he stopped short of stating that the apex court had erred in its judgment.

Speaking to reporters outside the apex court in Putrajaya, the lawyer based his argument on evidence suggesting that Sirul led police to the crime scene and that a blood-stained slipper found in Sirul’s car belonged to the deceased.

"It appeared from the general impression that the Federal Court's ruling considered the evidence of respondents (Sirul and Azilah Hadri) having led police to the crime scene at Puncak Alam as a significant factor pointing towards the guilt of the respondents," he said.

However, he added that the Court of Appeal in previously acquitting the two former police personnel held that circumstantial evidence adduced by the prosecution was insufficient to sustain the finding of the duo's guilt.

Kamarul stressed that the lower court never made such findings that Sirul had pointed the way to the crime scene.

To state otherwise, he argued, would appear incorrect.

Kamarul said the Federal Court also assumed that the blood stain found on the slipper inside Sirul's car belonged to Altantuya.

"If this is what the Federal Court said, then it would be completely untrue," he added.

This is because, he said, even the prosecution submitted that the blood belonged to those from the same mother group, without pinpointing to Altantuya.

Respect court's decision

However, Kamarul was unable to ascertain the grounds for the Federal Court's verdict without the 88-page full judgement.

"I can't say beyond that, we need to read the (full) judgement very carefully before we make any further statements

"Whatever I said just now was just a matter of impression I got," he said.

The court only read out an eight-page brief judgement today, which overturned the Appellate Court's acquittal.

"We respect the decision and are bound by the decision," said Kamarul.

He pointed out that the final avenue would be a decision to file for a review of the apex court's judgment.

 

However, he said this would depend on instructions from Sirul, who has not been in contact with them since June 2014.