Charges against political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda and another accused may be dropped when the trial of slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu resumes on Monday next week.

This is just one of the speculations that has surfaced over the trial as raised by de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim at his office in Petaling Jaya today.

"Even the trial judge may be changed again and that all these moves are to prevent certain facts that could be politically embarrassing for a particular minister from emerging," he said.

Anwar Ibrahim said such speculations need to be taken seriously because past ones have been proven true.

"Like the rumour on the changing of the judge was proven to be true, rumour of the change in the prosecution was also proven true, rumour that the counsel Zulkifli Nordin (for one of the accused) will be discharged was known a month earlier and was also proven to be true.

"That shows a pattern of a web of deceit, (conspiracy) moves that have to be taken seriously," he said.

The trial for Altantuya's murder was scheduled to begin on June 4 but the new prosecution team led by Tun Majid Tun Hamzah - who took over the case the night before - asked for a postponement on grounds that his team needed time to study more than 100 investigation papers.

Many unanswered questions

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail explained that the previous deputy public prosecutor Salehudin Saidin has been known to play badminton with trial judge Mohd Zaki Mohd Yasin.

Anwar had described the AG's explanation as "trite and illogical".

"Who would believe that badminton games played last year would suddenly become a major issue and actions were taken at the last hour?" he asked.

He stressed that there are still too many unanswered questions surrounding the case including the possibility of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's involvement.

"I'm not even calling for Najib to resign. I'm just asking him to answer. I'm calling for a transparent, open and just trial," he said.

Also unanswered was why the initial media reports that Altantuya was Muslim suddenly stopped.

"There must be a reason why she had a Muslim name. Was she engaged or married? Did she become Muslim on her own volition? Was she persuaded or coerced? This issue just suddenly closed," he said.

When the news of Altantuya's death came out, the press had often referred to her as Aminah Abdullah.

Anwar also made known that Altantuya's father Dr Sharriibuu Setev had contacted him to express his frustration over the way the trial was being conducted.

Earlier on, Shaariibuu held a separate press conference alleging that his daughter was murdered because she "knew too much".

"It was no ordinary love affair...Razak was afraid of something, she found out about it... but I do not know what it is," he repeatedly said.

He also said that if the case was to be delayed on Monday, it would prove the existence of political interference.

"The police is ready. The witnesses are ready. It has been eight months since Altantuya was killed. So why the delay? It can only be political interference causing these problems," he explained.

Neither facts nor law

Echoing Shaariibuu's view, Anwar said: "If it's not politics I don't know what (else is causing the mystery surrounding the case). It's neither facts nor law.

"Look at the way the initial investigation was conducted. If not for the family members crying for proper investigation and adducing facts to support their case, this case would've been closed," he elaborated.

Asked on what would happen should the speculations of Razak's charges being dropped be true, Anwar cheekily answered: "Then there will be early elections".

Altantuya is believed to have been killed in a jungle in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam last October. Only fragments her bones were recovered.

Charged with the murder are policemen Azilah Hadri, 31, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, for allegedly committing the murder in Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year.

Razak, 47, is accused of abetting the two special action force personnel, allegedly committing the offence at the Bangunan Getah Asli in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18 last year.

The trial that has gained international prominence is set to run for a month starting next Monday.