Azilah: I only want to advise Altantuya, not kill her

On the 153rd day of the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial, first accused Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri denied that he and second accused Sirul Azhar Umar had gone to Hotel Malaya where the Mongolian was staying, to assassinate and eliminate the woman.

Azilah who took the witness stand for the second day at the Shah Alam High Court today also denied a suggestion by DPP Tun Majid Tun Hamzah that the two had gone to the hotel to check out the appropriate time or place to kill Altantuya.

"I only went there to try and advise the Chinese lady (Altantuya) to stop threatening the political analyst. Although I do not know her real name, I intend to see her and say "hello sister" to advise and pacify her from threatening or harassing Abdul Razak Baginda.

“I intend to see her and the Chinese man (the private investigator hired by Altantuya whose name is Ho) to tell them nicely to stop making those threats," he emphasised several times during cross-examination.

The policemen also denied the suggestions by Tun Majid that they were at the hotel to threaten Altantuya.

Pressed further by Tun Majid who asked if it would be better that he (Azilah) called the woman as Abdul Razak had given him Altantuya's phone number, the chief inspector replied he had never thought about it.

Throughout the questioning, the policeman was shown eight images taken by close circuit camera at the hotel of them at the hotel lobby and in front of the elevator and the alley leading to Room 512 where Altantuya had allegedly stayed.

altantuya razak baginda crime scene 180707 azilahAzilah had told the court he had gone to Hotel Malaya with Sirul to meet Altantuya after Abdul Razak gave him the address and room number. However, they did not enter the room as they did not wish to intrude into the privacy of the occupants.

Furthermore, the chief inspector said while Razak told him verbally the room number was 512, he (Razak) had wrote differently on an A4 size paper as 813 and hence, he was slightly confused on seeing this.

On the same piece of paper, Abdul Razak had also written Aminah (Altantuya's) cell phone number and the Chinese private investigator's number.

However, Azilah said he was not sure whether the two numbers given by Abdul Razak actually belong to them and that was why he did not call.

Going beyond his duty to help

Earlier, he told the court that he was entrusted with looking after security and escort of VVIPs and VIPs with the government.

Asked by Tun Majid, Azilah agreed that Abdul Razak should not be considered as VVIP and VIP.

"I was asked by the deputy prime minister's aide-de-camp DSP Musa Safri to help Abdul Razak who was being threatened.

‘Musa did not say what the threat was but he wanted me to help. He gave me the political analyst’s cell phone number. That was why, I called and went to see Abdul Razak at his office on October 18, 2006, at about 10am in Bangunan Getah Asli.

The chief inspector had the court in stitches when he agreed with Tun Majid that he was shocked to see Abdul Razak's personal assistant by the name of Siti Aishah.

"She was gorgeous and I was taken aback. I could not remember if she asked me whether I was from the Special Action Squad," he said.

While giving his testimony yesterday, Azilah gave an alibi saying he was with his fiancee Norazilah Baharuddin for a char kuey teow meal at Wangsa Maju, and later with his girlfriend Lance Corporal Rohaniza Roslan who sent him to a transit home (a shelter for special action squad members) at Precinct 8 Putrajaya on that fateful night when Altantuya was murdered.

Azilah and Sirul are jointly charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, at a location between Lot 12843 and Lot 16735 in Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor between 10am on Oct 19, 2006 and 1am the following day.

Continuing his testimony, the chief inspector told the court that his conversation with Abdul Razak lasted for an hour where the political analyst seemed to be under a lot of pressure.

abdul razak baginda altantuya murder 141108He said Abdul Razak mentioned his problems and the threats made by Altantuya. He said at that time, Abdul Razak did not name the Chinese lady, but the political analyst described her as an "old friend".

Azilah denied a suggestion made by Tun Majid that he had told Abdul Razak that he (Azilah) had terminated six people. When asked further by the DPP whether it was more, Azilah said ‘No’.

In Abdul Razak's affidavit, he had stated Azilah claimed he had killed six people. However, the portion of the evidence had at that time been expunged by the court.

The murder accused told the court that Abdul Razak had wanted him to advise Altantuya to stop her threats on him and wanted him to patrol the political analyst’s house in Bukit Damansara

"I agreed to help out Abdul Razak and promised to advise Altantuya. I also agree to patrol Abdul Razak's home whenever I was free," he said.

Known Sirul for four years

"I would try and use diplomacy to advise the Chinese lady (Altantuya) and the Chinese man (private investigator)."

Azilah, who was an investigation officer in Sepang for six years also told the court that he knew Altantuya and the Chinese investigator should have been investigated for criminal intimidation. However, Abdul Razak did not want to lodge a police report to resolve the problem.

altantuya trial 160707 tun majidWhen questioned by Tun Majid, Azilah agreed that he may not be able to help much as he was occupied with his duty as an escort for VVIPs and VIPs where sometime it would last between two and four weeks.

Tun Majid asked whether he was doing the task with possible payment from Abdul Razak maybe petrol money, Azilah said he was doing amal jariah (charity) as Musa had instructed him to help the political analyst.

"At times on Oct 18, 2006 I would patrol Abdul Razak's house when I was free," he said.

"If I am not free, I will ask Sirul to help. That is why I asked Sirul to help out to also patrol Abdul Razak's house. I also went once with Sirul to show Abdul Razak's house in Bukit Damansara," said the chief inspector.

Tun Majid then asked how long he had known Sirul and to this, Azilah replied, “four years.”

"He is one of my subordinate officers and a good friend. I told him about Abdul Razak's problems and he agreed to help. I did not ask any other officer in the Special Action Force. I only told Sirul to help me with the problem faced by the political analyst," the chief inspector said.

Hearing continues before Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin on Monday.