Grieving family members of a murdered Mongolian model held a memorial service today at the site where her body was reportedly blown up with explosives.

"It was a sad scene. Everyone cried, including myself," said Syed Abdul Rahman Alhabshi, Mongolian honorary counsel in Malaysia.

The victim, 28-year-old model Altantuya Shaariibuu, was reportedly shot and her body blown up with hand grenades.

The murder has generated an unprecedented media frenzy for the past two weeks because of the woman's links with a Malaysian political analyst who has close ties to deputy prime minister Najib Razak.

Abdul Razak Baginda, 46, head of the influential Malaysian Strategic Research Centre think-tank, is accused of abetting two policemen - Azilah Hadri, 30, and Sirul Azhar Umar, 35 - to commit the murder.

Abdul Razak was charged yesterday and faces the death penalty if found guilty. The two officers have been charged with Altantuya's murder and also face execution if found guilty.

His case has been fixed for mention at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Nov 23.

Buddhist priest present

Syed Abdul said the girl's father, Shaariibuu Setev, and two other relatives attended the ceremony. A Buddhist priest lit incense and placed white rice and milk at the place where her shattered remains were found on Nov 6.

"It was a ritual to pray for Altantuya's soul to rest in peace," he said.

Police have said that the 28-year-old model was Abdul Razak's lover and that she was kidnapped from outside his home on Oct 21.

They have re-arrested two private investigators who are being questioned on suspicion of kidnapping and criminal intimidation of the model.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has vowed there will be no cover-up of the woman's murder.