Report: Sirul walks free after Aussie court rules against indefinite detention

Sirul Azhar Umar, who was sentenced to death for the 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, has reportedly been allowed to walk free in Australia following a High Court ruling against indefinite detention.

The Daily Mail reported that the former police officer was freed from Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre yesterday and is believed to be staying with a relative in Canberra.

This came after the High Court ruled on Nov 8 that indefinite immigration detention was unlawful.

Following the ruling, Australian Immigration Minister Andrew Giles and Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said in a joint statement that the government was considering other measures that may be appropriate to ensure community safety.

They said individuals who are required to be released as a result of the High Court's order will have appropriate visa conditions imposed on them in line with the need to protect the community, and that such conditions would be based on individual circumstances.

Altantuya, a Mongolian national, was murdered in October 2006 and her remains were blown up with military-grade explosives. A separate criminal court convicted Sirul (above) and fellow Special Action Unit commando Azilah Harun of the murder and sentenced them to death in April 2009.

The criminal court acquitted former political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda of abetting the murder without his defence being called in October 2008.

Azilah is on death row in a Malaysian prison but Sirul fled to Australia prior to the apex court upholding the duo's conviction and death sentence in 2015.

The Federal Court reversed an earlier Court of Appeal decision that quashed the guilty verdict of the two men. Sirul flew to Australia after the Court of Appeal ruling while the prosecution was appealing to the apex court.

Sirul was in the custody of Australian authorities, who have a policy of not deporting anybody facing the death penalty in the country of origin.

Malaysia has a moratorium in place on carrying out the death penalty and has not executed anyone since 2017, but the death penalty itself has not been repealed.

92 people released

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, as many as 92 people are being released and permitted to remain in Australia under special conditions.

Most are refugees, but aside from Sirul, this includes others found guilty of violent crimes.

Sirul’s son Shukri Azam, who is based in Australia, confirmed that his father is out.

“(He is) with me right now, and I’m handling everything on his behalf,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Altantuya murder suit: Family appeals for higher compensation

Altantuya murder suit: Govt, Razak Baginda appeal RM5m award

Altantuya murder: Court orders govt to pay RM5m to family

COMMENT | Sex, sleaze, corruption and M’sian elites

Thomas: Sirul's evidence corroborated Azilah's 'shoot to kill' Altantuya claim