Two members of the police's elite Special Action Unit (UTK) were charged in the Shah Alam magistrate's court with the murder of Mongolian part-time model Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Chief inspector Azilah Hadri, 30, and constable Sirul Azhar Umar, 35, were jointly charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, at a location between Lot 12843 and Lot 16735 in Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10am on Oct 19 and 1am the following day.

No plea was recorded and magistrate Hafizah Abdul Rajak set Dec 14 for mention at the High Court.

Deputy public prosecutors Salehuddin Saidin and Noorin Badaruddin appeared for the prosecution while the two accused were represented by counsel Shaun Tan Kee Shaan.

Two-day extension

Another policewoman, a lance corporal, was however released on police bail today.

These three police personnel were remanded together by the police to assist in the investigation into Altantuya's murder.

Yesterday, the court gave a two-day extension to the remand order on a renowned political analyst who was detained in connection with the case.

The 46-year-old analyst was brought under heavy police escort to the court where he managed to speak for a few minutes to his wife, 19-year old daughter and other members of his family.

He was then taken to the police headquarters before being driven back to the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, where he is being treated for a chest infection.

Altantuya was killed and her body blown up with hand grenades after she was allegedly kidnapped outside the analyst's house.

Her remains were found in an isolated area south of Kuala Lumpur.

The murder has created a sensation in Malaysia as the analyst, said to have been her lover, is connected to a number of senior politicians including Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.