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Sirul accuses IGP of lying about Altantuya probe
Published:  Apr 4, 2015 12:35 PM
Updated: Apr 6, 2015 4:09 AM

Sirul Azhar Umar has accused inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar of lying when the police chief said he sent his men to Australia to meet the fugitive.

Speaking to Malaysiakini at 2.30am Malaysian time today (5:30am Australian time), Sirul said he had trouble sleeping following the IGP's remarks yesterday, which he described as irresponsible.

“Let me tell you, there were no officers or police personnel who met me in Australia.

“He (IGP) is lying to the police force and lying to the public with his claims, and is trying to protect his boss,” Sirul said.

The IGP was reported in Bernama yesterday saying the police had already met up with Sirul, who is currently under immigration detention in Australia, to gather information on all the allegations he had raised.

However, when asked if any police had been sent to meet with Sirul, deputy IGP Noar Rashid said he is in the dark.

"Maybe IGP has the knowledge. I do not know, I focus on other things, these things are not within my knowledge," he said when met at Universiti Technologi Malaysia.

Meanwhile Sirul, on the phone with Malaysiakini, continued , “Certainly, if he cared for all his men, he would send someone (to investigate) but he did not.

“No one from the police force came to see me to investigate or ask about my welfare. I am alone here.”

'IGP, open intelligence file'

Sirul, who along with chief inspector Azilah Hadri was convicted of murdering Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, could be heard crying on the other end of the line.

Both served as bodyguard to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, then deputy prime minister, when the murder took place in 2006.

“If the police and public want to know the truth, I challenge Khalid to open the 'intelligence' file,” Sirul retorted.

The intelligence files that Sirul was referring to was the original statement he gave to Malaysian intelligence police - commonly referred to as the Special Branch - and the police criminal investigation department.

It was recorded when he was picked up by the police and brought home from Pakistan, while accompanying then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

That intelligence statement was taken during investigations over Altantuya’s ( left ) murder, along with his cautioned statement - widely referred to as his “confession” statement - by the police criminal investigation department.

The prosecution tried to tender the “confession” statement during the Shah Alam High Court trial but was rejected by Justice Mohd Zaki Yasin in a trial within a trial.

Sirul yesterday claimed the widely circulated “confession” statement - put up on the Internet - was false, as there there had been a lot of changes made on it.

The IGP was also quoted by Bernama saying that Sirul had not revealed any new information, leaving the police with no grounds to launch a new probe.

“All allegations, including the latest, have been investigated and after examining the outcome of the investigation, we gather there is nothing for us to act further,” the IGP said in response to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's suggestion that Sirul's latest allegations be given attention.

Mum wants to meet Dr M

Mahathir, in a scathing blog post on Thursday, asked who had directed the killing of Altantuya following Sirul's claims that he was merely following orders and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had rubbished such latest allegations.

"This is a human life. It would be very cruel for Sirul to die for just following orders," Mahathir had said on the blog in reference to Malaysiakini 's exclusive interview with Sirul .

Yesterday, PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar also contacted Sirul and told Malaysiakini the former police corporal was touched by what Mahathir had said. Mahfuz is also arranging for Sirul's mother Piah Samat to meet the former premier.

Mahfuz had last month brought Piah to meet Sirul at the Villawood detention facility in Sydney.

Sirul was picked up by Australian authorities in Brisbane on Jan 22 following a red notice issued by Interpol.

The Federal Court upheld the murder conviction on Sirul and Azilah for Altantuya’s death on Jan 13, but Sirul had already left the country by then.

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