The police will track down fugitive murderer and former special action force personnel Sirul Azahar Umar, said Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.

In a text message to Malaysiakini , he said the police would also determine if Sirul ( right ) left the country after he was previously acquitted.

"Since the court has issued an arrest warrant, we will look for him and also alert our counterparts abroad," he added.

Sirul had failed to turn up at the Federal Court this morning, which sentenced him and former chief inspector Azilah Hadri to death for the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Even prior to the hearing, there was talk about Sirul having fled the country but this could not be confirmed.

During the initial trial, Sirul had caused a stir when he claimed that he was being made a scapegoat in the high-profile case to "protect their plans".

His lawyer Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin ( left ) had then said that his client was being framed and evidence was allegedly planted by the police in Sirul's house and car.

Sirul's car and house keys were in the possession of the police when he was accompanying then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Pakistan, where he was eventually arrested.

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