Hazman Ahmad, the lawyer representing Azilah Hadri who was convicted with murdering Altantuya Shaariibuu, has told the Shah Alam High Court today that he was withdrawing himself from representing the chief inspector in the RM100 million suit filed by the deceased family.

He said a formal application will be made before Justice Suraya Othman on April 29 when the matter comes up for case management.

“I have not received any instructions from my client. Hence, I decided to withdraw myself. However, I am still Azilah's counsel in the criminal matter,” Hazman told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Justice Suraya also fixed the same date for Altantuya's family to make an application to amend their statement of claim.

The family is represented by lawyer Ramkarpal Singh, senior federal counsel Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar acted for the government, while lawyer CF Kwan appeared for political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.

Altantuya's father Shaariibuu Setev, along with his wife Altansetseg Sanjaaand, their granchildren Mungunshagai Bayarjargal and Altanshagai Munkhthulga, filed the suit in 2007, where they named Abdul Razak, Azilah and Sirul Azhar Umar, the police and government as defendants.

Abdul Razak acquitted

Abdul Razak was acquitted without his defence called, while the two policemen, Azilah and Sirul were found guilty by the Shah Alam High Court.

They were acquitted by the Court of Appeal in 2013. However, the Federal Court on Jan 13, found Azilah and Sirul guilty and both are facing the death sentence.

Sirul however, had left the country before the decision and was arrested in Australia. He is now being detained at the Villawood detention centre in Sydney.