The High Court in Shah Alam today ordered documents on the amended RM100 million civil suit filed by the family of Altantuya Shaariibuu in connection with her death to be submitted to Sirul Azhar Umar, one of the defendants in the case.
Lawyer Ram Karpal Singh, representing Altantuya’s father, Shaariibuu Setev, and three family members, said the order was made by High Court judge Soraya Othman in chambers.
Ram Karpal said the documents would be sent to the Foreign Ministry, the latest by Thursday, to be handed over to a representative of the Malaysian Consulate in Sydney, Australia, for delivery to Sirul Azhar.
The amendments were made based on new evidence contained in the appeal records of the Federal Court on the conviction and death sentence on former Special Action Unit personnel Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar for the murder of Altantuya nine years ago.
Last Jan 13, the Federal Court set aside Azilah and Sirul Azhar’s acquittal by the Court of Appeal on Aug 23, 2013 and sentenced them to death after granting the prosecution’s appeal.
However, Sirul had fled to Australia by then, but was detained by the Australian Immigration officers on Jan 20 following a red notice by Interpol. He is being detained at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney.
On June 4, 2007, Setev and Altantuya’s mother, Altantsetseg Sanjaa, and her two sons, Mungunshagai Bayarjargal and Altanshagai Munkhtulga named Azilah, Sirul Azhar, political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda and the government as defendants in the suit.
In the suit, Altantuya’s family is claiming RM100 million in compensation.
Abdul Razak was charged with abetting Azilah and Sirul Azhar in the murder of Altantuya, 28, in 2006, but was acquitted by the High Court in October 2008 without calling for his defence, while Azilah and Sirul Azhar were convicted of the offence in 2009.
In the statement of claim, Altantuya’s family alleged that her death had caused them mental shock and psychological trauma, entitling them to be compensated with exemplary and aggravated damages.
They alleged that Altantuya was shot dead and her body blown up with C-4 explosives by Azilah and Sirul Azhar and pieces of her remains were subsequently found in a forest area in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam on Nov 7, 2006.
They claimed that Abdul Razak had abetted Azilah and Sirul Azhar in murdering Altantuya.
The family claimed that as a result of the acts of Azilah, Sirul Azhar and Abdul Razak, they suffered loss and damage, particularly Altantuya’s two sons, who had lost the love of their mother and sole breadwinner.
- Bernama
