While Sirul Azhar Umar has been grabbing international headlines following his red notice status by Interpol and arrest in Australia on Wednesday, his partner in crime Azilah Hadri is languishing in the Kajang prison.

 

Azilah's lawyer Hazman Ahmad said he would be meeting his client next week to seek further instructions.

 

“This includes the possibility of filing a review of the Federal Court decision on Jan 13 that resulted in the conviction and death sentence,” he told Malaysiakini.

 

A review of the apex court decision is normally filed under four circumstances, namely the element of bias, coram failure, fraud, or procedural unfairness, in the decision by the previous bench. This is stated under Rule 137 of the Courts of Judicature Act.

 

Hazman ( right ) said besides the above, he could also apply for a pardon or clemency for his client.

 

“This (application) for pardon will be done but not now. I will seek instructions on whether to file the review of the Federal Court's (decision) first,” he said.

 

Normally, clemency is a last resort for prisoners on death row.

 

Azilah and Sirul were found guilty by the Federal Court of murdering Altantuya Shaariibuu at Puncak Alam, near Shah Alam, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20, 2006.

 

Federal Court judge Suriyadi Halim Omar, who wrote the unanimous decision said Azilah's phone call which had been detected near Kampung Melayu Subang and two calls at Puncak Alam and Altantuya's jewellery found in Sirul's jacket placed at his home are circumstantial evidence that led to their conviction .

 

This is in addition that the two police special commando were the last to be seen with Altantuya when she was picked up from political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda's home in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

 

Abdul Razak, a close confidante of prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who was also charged, was acquitted without his defence being called by the Shah Alam High Court.

 

The courts did not establish a motive as to why the two ex-police officers would want to kill and blow up Altantuya with explosives.