The Shah Alam High Court today extended political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda's RM1 million bail on condition that the sum is deposited to the court by 5pm today.

The 46-year-old analyst, who is linked to top politicians, has also been ordered to surrender his passport and report to the Brickfields district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur once a week.

Abdul Razak, who heads the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre, has been charged with abetment in the murder of Mongolian freelance model Altantunya Shaariibu.

The offence, which carries the death penalty upon conviction, is non-bailable.

However, the court can exercise its discretion in deciding whether or not to allow bail, but the granting of bail in murder cases is very rare in the country's legal history.

When Abdul Razak was charged last month, the court allowed bail on a RM1 million bond with two sureties without security, which did not required him to pay up-front.

This resulted in a controversy and an attempt to debate the matter in Parliament was however rejected by the House speaker.

The bond expired today and the court this morning granted an extension with additional conditions, including the payment of RM1 million after the court was told that Abdul Razak was sick.

According to Bernama , Abdul Razak's wife Mazlinda Makhzan and elder brother Dr Rani Abdullah together posted the RM1 million bail at 3.30pm. After bail was posted, the accused was seen smiling as he left the Shah Alam court house.

Defence seeks review of charge

The High Court today heard the re-mention of the case. The proceeding began at 9.30am before judicial commissioner Mohd Zaki Md Yasin.

Abdul Razak, who was initially represented by lawyer Muhammad Shafie Abdullah, is now represented by KK Wong and Lau Thian Eng. No reason was given for this.

Wong also asked the court to fix a mention date at least one week from now pending a decision of the Attorney-General's Chambers on a representation made to review the charge on his client.

The application was made on Dec 6, he said.

Clad in a light blue shirt and dark blue trousers, the analyst appeared calm but looked pale and tired as he walked into the courtroom.

He was seen muttering to himself during the entire proceedings. Though inaudible, he was believed to be reciting his prayers.

The accused was accompanied by his wife, daughter Roweena, parents and elder brother.

Cops claim trial

Meanwhile, Chief Insp Azilah Hadri, 30, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 35, who were charged with the principal offence, were led to the court with their hands cuffed, by several police personnel at 8.50am.

The duo claimed trial to the murder of the 28-year-old model, who was shot dead and her body blown up with explosives in a secondary jungle in Shah Alam.

The case will be mentioned again at the Shah Alam High Court on Jan 5. It will be a joint trial.

On Nov 23, Abdul Razak pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to abetting Azilah dan Sirul Azhar in murdering Altantuya.

The case was then transferred to the Shah Alam High Court.

Also present in court today were prominent lawyer Karpal Singh ( far right ), who is holding a watching brief for Altantuya's family, and Aruinbold Yadmaa, the special secretary of the Mongolian ministry of external affairs.

Aruinbold confirmed that Mongolian Prime Minister Mieagombo Enkhbold had sent a letter to his Malaysian counterpart Abdullah Ahmad Badawi asking for the trial to be carried out in a fair manner.

Earlier this week, 45 Mongolian non-governmental organisations also expressed concern over the proceedings.

Karpal's attempt to oppose the bail request was dismissed by the judge. He later told reporters that Abdul Razak should not qualify for bail.

"He is not sick. It is wrong to give bail," he said.

The opposition politician, who is also renowned criminal lawyer, also criticised the attempt to review the charge against Abdul Razak.

"We are the laughing stock of the world," Karpal said. He said he will send a letter of protest on behalf of Altantunya's family regarding this to the attorney-general.

Release the victim's remains

Karpal also urged the court to order the police to release the victim's remains to be taken back to Mongolia for burial.

Government lawyers said the remains would be handed to the family within a week.

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

She went missing on Oct 21 and her shattered remains were found in an isolated area near Kuala Lumpur on Nov 6.

Abdul Razak - whose political connections stretch as high as deputy premier Najib Razak - was detained by police on Nov 7.

The prime minister has vowed there will be no cover-up of the woman's murder.