Azilah Hadri’s application for a royal pardon from the sultan of Selangor has once again spotlighted the case of Mongolian model and translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was murdered in October 2006.

The case attracted much domestic and international attention and the controversy raged on even after the Federal Court had overturned the acquittal of both Azilah and Sirul Azhar Umar by the Court of Appeal and passed the death sentence on the duo, who were formerly attached to the Special Action Unit.

However, after the death penalty was passed, Sirul managed to slip out and headed for Australia, from where he could not be extradited by the Malaysian authorities because Australia does not support capital punishment. This turn of events gave the case an unpredictable twist.

It will be unfair to have Azilah face the death sentence but not Sirul who cannot now be extradited if he faces the death penalty. This episode has created some complications and could set a legal precedent.

It will not be right for one of the convicted persons to face the death penalty whereas the other is free because he managed to slip out of the country.

Many are hoping that clemency will be granted to Azilah and that this will bring some form of closure to this controversial case. However, the fact that will linger on for a long time will be why these two police personnel wanted to kill a woman they hardly knew? And even dynamited her body to shreds.