Altantuya's son says rapper dad did not want to take him in

Altantuya Shaariibuu's eldest son Bayarkhuu Bayarjargal told the Shah Alam High Court today that his estranged father, who is a rapper in Mongolia, did not want to take him in after his mother died.

During cross-examination, lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon raised the matter of Bayarkhuu’s father, Bayarjargal Bayasgalam.

The lawyer referred to Bayarjargal by his stage name "Maadai".

“After October 2006, did your grandfather suggest you live with your father?” asked Manjeet, who is representing one of the defendants, Altantuya's former lover Abdul Razak Baginda.

“I do remember after the passing of my mother, not only my grandfather suggested that maybe I should meet him, but I too wanted to meet him,” replied the witness.

“I met with my paternal grandfather who told me he (Maadai) was re-married and has other children. He refused to take me in,” said Bayarkhuu, who was nine when his mother was murdered.

Manjeet said he was bringing up the matter of Bayarkhuu's father, whom he described as a successful hip-hop artist in Mongolia, as the RM100 million suit filed by Altantuya's family included dependency claims. 

The 21-year-old Bayarkhuu also said he first met his father in 2011 and his father told him at that time he had just come back from the UK. However, he is not sure whether Maadai was previously living there.

He added that he now sees his father occasionally, sometimes going a few years without seeing him.

Manjeet then referred to a 2006 news article where Maadai purportedly said he would “meet and persuade his former-in-laws to give him custody of his son” if Altantuya was confirmed to have died.

“Do you know that your father wanted custody of you?” he questioned Bayarkhuu.

Bayarkhuu, who said he last met with his father before coming to Malaysia this time, disagreed with the contents of the article.

“I spoke to him man-to-man, he was very clear at the time. He apologised to me for not being there when I grew up.

“As a son, I feel he did not want me. He admits it and he apologised to me,” he said.

“Do you know, after 2006, your father loved you and wanted the best for you?” Manjeet asked further.

“I knew I had a father but I never felt any love and care from him ever,” Bayarkhuu replied.

'Bayar a very popular name in Mongolia'

However, Manjeet posited that Bayarkhuu, who was named Mungunshagai Bayarjargal at birth, changed his name to one similar to his father’s real name due to their supposed closeness.

“I disagree. Bayar is simply a very popular name in Mongolia. It does not mean I am proud of my father,” he said, adding that it means joy in Mongolian.

Manjeet also asked whether he had any knowledge whether Maadai was ever given the opportunity to raise him.

“I don’t know but I know he refused to take me in,” he insisted.

When Manjeet asked whether his father could have afforded to take him in after 2006, Bayarkhuu said: “How would I ever know, I have never met him (at that point).”

Referring to the same 2006 news article, Manjeet quoted Maadai as saying "I have the means to look after him. I love him and I want the best for him".

Bayarkhuu merely replied: “I disagree.”

The hearing will continue in May with the cross-examination of Altantuya’s father Shaariibuu Setev.

Altantuya was murdered in 2006 in the jungles near Puncak Alam where she was shot in the head before her body was blown up with explosives.

Two policemen, Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri, who were the personal bodyguards of then-deputy prime minister Najib Razak, were found guilty and sentenced to death for her murder.

Razak, who was an aide to Najib, was charged with abetting the duo but he was later acquitted without his defence being called.

Shaariibuu, his wife Altantsetseg Sanjaa, and Bayarkhuu have named Razak Baginda, the government, Sirul and Azilah as defendants in their suit.

The family, which alleged that there was conspiracy in Altantuya’s murder, is seeking RM100 million in damages, including dependency claims.

'Bullied, teased' - Altantuya's son changed name after mother's death

Witness: Altantuya trailed, threatened by 'Razak Baginda's men'

Altantuya wanted to collect fees for 'submarine purchase' translations

Family almost fell apart after Altantuya's death, says father