Why deport journalist if nothing to hide in Altantuya case?

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Why did Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's government deport an Al Jazeera journalist over her investigations into the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu if he truly has nothing to hide, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang asked today.

Lim said this in reference to the current affairs programme 101 East aired on Al Jazeera this morning, which also revealed that its Asia journalist Marry Ann Jolley was deported during her investigation into the murder.

"Why is the case of the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu so sensitive that Al Jazeera ’s current affairs programme 101 East Asia journalist Mary Ann Jolley had to be deported?

"Since Najib has strongly and repeatedly denied knowing or having met Altantuya, his story should be able to stand up to any scrutiny, whether by Al Jazeera ’s investigative reporter, or even by a royal commission of inquiry into Altantuya’s murder," Lim said in a statement.

He said this in reference to the Prime Minister's Office statement which reiterated: "The prime minister did not know, has never met, has never had any communication with, and has no link whatsoever with the deceased".

Altantuya was murdered in 2006 and her body blown up with military grade explosives.

Two of Najib's bodyguards, when he was the deputy prime minister, were charged for her murder.

The duo - Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri - were convicted by the Shah Alam High Court but the verdict was overturned by the Court of Appeal before it was reinstated by the Federal Court earlier this year.

Azilah is awaiting for his death sentence while Sirul fled to Australia before the Federal Court decision was delivered.

Najib's associate Abdul Razak Baginda was also charged with abetting the murder, but was acquitted by the Shah Alam High Court in 2008 without his defence being called. There was no appeal.

Lim also questioned if police will re-open the case in light of the latest Al Jazeera report.

"Many questions remain unanswered in her murder, the most serious of which was that the motive of the murder had not been found as the two persons convicted of the brutal murder of Altantuya - former police commandos Sirul Azhir Umar and Azilah Hadri - had not met or known her before the murder.

"Will the police re-open investigations to delve into the real motive and the mastermind of Altantunya’s murder?" Lim asked.



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