The Appeals Court in Putrajaya today allowed murder convict Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar to put in additional grounds in his petition of appeal.

altantuya razak baginda murder 110707 sirul escorted Sirul Azhar, 39 ( centre ), and Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 34, were convicted and sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court in 2009, for the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu at Mukim Bukit Raja between 9.45pm on Oct 18, 2006, and 9.45pm the following day.

Their appeals to the Appeals Court are scheduled for hearing on Aug 27 and 28.

Today, a three-man panel presided by justices Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad, Abdul Wahab Patail and Mohtaruddin Baki allowed Sirul Azhar’s application to add in additional grounds in his petition of appeal after deputy public prosecutor Manoj Kurup did not object to the application.

His counsel, Hasnal Rezua Merican, said there were nine main grounds in the petition of appeal.

Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, 50, had been charged with abetting the duo who were commandos with the police’s elite Special Action Squad, in Altantuya’s murder.

He was freed by the High Court on Oct 31, 2008, without his defence being called.

- Bernama