IGP: If Sirul wants justice, follow due process

Fugitive Sirul Azhar Umar has been urged to lodge a report with the Malaysian authorities if he has new evidence that could aid justice.

In a statement, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Razarudin Husain said Sirul’s latest statements through an interview with Al Jazeera were without merit and baseless.

“He had the opportunity to defend himself in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the laws of Malaysia.

“However, his allegations were never raised in any courts,” said Razarudin.

Sirul (above) claimed during the interview that he was being “controlled”, despite being in Australia, to protect former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

However, the former police officer refused to state who ordered him and then-colleague Azilah Hadri to murder Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

He also claimed lawyer Hasnal Rezua Merican offered inducements of “around RM1 million” to record a video in 2016 where he exonerated Najib of any involvement in Altantuya’s murder.

Hasnal was Sirul’s lawyer at one point. Hasnal has denied Sirul’s allegations.

Sirul is currently freed from immigration detention in Australia. He fled to Australia in 2013 after he and Azilah were freed by the Court of Appeal in Malaysia.

The Malaysian Federal Court eventually reinstated the conviction and death sentence against the duo in 2015.

Application to commute death sentence

Razarudin noted that Sirul has yet to make use of the Revision of Sentence of Death and Imprisonment for Natural Life (Temporal Jurisdiction of the Federal Court) Act 2023 to seek a review of his death sentence.

Under the law, those on death row or facing life imprisonment have 90 days from Sept 12 to apply for a review.

Meanwhile, the IGP added that Malaysia is unable to apply for Sirul’s extradition until the latter applies to commute his death sentence into a jail sentence.

“If that happens, Malaysia can apply for his extradition to perform the sentence in Malaysia,” said Razarudin.

Australia will not allow Sirul’s extradition because its authorities have a policy of not deporting anyone who faces the death penalty in their country of origin.

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