"They first declared my daughter as a model and then, a prostitute. She wasn't a model and neither is my girl a prostitute," an angry Shariibuu Setev lashed out at the press today.

"It has been said that she had a sexual relationship with Baginda. Even in Mongolia and in Malaysia, it has been written that she was living the life of a prostitute," the emotional father told a press conference via a translator in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Clearly unhappy and angry, Shariibuu said he has to clear the rumours about his deceased daughter as the media had falsely accused her of being a model and a prostitute.

The press event, organised by several human rights groups also raised concerns about the trial of Altantuya Shariibuu and the standard of press reports regarding the case.

Suaram executive director Yap Swee Seng declared that it was "to express concern over the recent twists in the case, as well as to express solidarity with Altantuya's family and Mongolian NGOs campaigning for justice for Altantuya".

The press meet, jointly organised by Suaram, Y4C (Youth For Change), Women's Development Collective (WDC) and Women's Action Organisation (WAO) also released a press statement endorsed by 22 NGOs raising questions about the development of the trial and the way it has been handled.

Call for just and fair trial

Their concerns were directed at the last-minute replacement of the public prosecutors by attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, why Tun Majid Tun Hamzah, the Civil Division head of the AG's Chambers, is appointed to lead a criminal prosecution, as opposed to the prosecutors from the Criminal Division, and finally the unnecessary two-week postponement of the June 4 trial.

The Altantuya murder trial was scheduled to begin on June 4 but the new prosecution team led by Tun Majid Tun Hamzah - who took over the case the night before - asked for a postponement on grounds that his team needed time to study more than 100 investigation papers.

A separate statement endorsed by several Mongolian NGOs also expressed similar concerns over the postponement of the June 4 trial and called for a just and fair trial.

The conference was also put together to allow Shariibuu Setev to voice his frustrations about the progress of the case and to clear his daughter's name.

The first issue he raised was the identity of Altantuya.

"There was another Mongolian model with the name of Altantuya. That model held a press conference to tell the public that those pictures printed by the press are not pictures of the deceased Altantuya."

Adding to that statement, Marina Chin Abdullah, executive director of WDC complained that "the public trial of Altantuya started even before the court trial has started. There has been a lot of misinformation."

"The way in which she was portrayed as a model, a prostitute, seemed to imply that she deserves such a brutal end."

Yap concurred with Shariibuu.

"The reports by the media contain a lot of misinformation. It is unprofessional and unethical. He has already suffered the loss of his daughter and he should not be subjected to a poor trial by the media."

'She worked for Baginda'

The father, who had flown in from Mongolia to as a witness also claimed that there was no romantic relationship with Abdul Razak Baginda, who is on trial for abetment in the murder.

He pointed out the implications of the alleged relationship portrayed in the press.

"Until today this wrong story is still being written," he explained disappointedly.

He then produced a receipt of a Fedex parcel that contained soap samples sent by Razak Baginda from Kuala Lumpur to "Mina" in Ulaanbataar City. He cited that they were for a soap business that the two were planning.

"She was a professional translator for the past five years. She worked for Baginda. She did not have a relationship with him."

Previously, Razak Baginda claimed that they had an intimate relationship and that he paid her money regularly, but that he stopped paying her after a while.

Shariibuu also refuted the rumour that Altantuya had converted to Islam as she was initially referred to as Aminah. He explained that "Amina" is Altantuya's pet name and pen name.

"It (Amina) means "my own life" in Mongolian. Amina is not a Muslim name, it has meaning in Mongolia."

"Altantuya was my first child. My daughter was my oldest and most precious That's why I called my daughter Amina," recollected Shariibuu sentimentally.

He also pulled out a copy of a poem written by Altantuya in Russian from a newspaper under her pen name Amina to further prove that it was not a Muslim name.

Plan to discredit deceased

In a surprising turn, Shariibuu also alleged that there was a contract between a Malaysian press and a Mongolian press to work together to defame the deceased and portray Razak Baginda in a positive light.

"I have seen the contract that is between one of the Malaysian press and one Mongolian press to defend Baginda and report negative things about Altantuya."

Shariibuu accused the press of irresponsible reporting and shaping negative public impressions of her even before the trial had started.

He also called for the government to take responsibility in the case.

"Policemen should be the most trusted people. But it is policemen who committed the crime. Because the policemen are state servants, the government of Malaysia has to take responsibility on behalf of its servants."

Yap added, "The most important thing is that there should be justice. We have legitimate concerns over the recent developments whether justice will be delivered to Altantuya and her family. We call on the public to pay attention to this case."

Meera Samanther, chairperson of WAO called for an expedient trial to take place, instead of postponing it any longer.

"If the trial is again postponed, it will be proven that it has really become a political issue," Shariibuu told reporters.

In a moment of nostalgia, Shariibuu said he still couldn't believe his daughter is no longer around.

"She was killed on October 19. That is the Mongolian Mother's Day. She never had the chance to give her Mother's Day present to her mother."

"I hope such a cruel heartless incident will never be repeated here. I hope Malaysians will never forget it."

The trial is set to resume on June 18.

Watch the six-minute video here.