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Arrest warrant on Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin extended
The Sessions Court here has granted an extension to Oct 9 for the execution of a warrant of arrest against Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin for failing to turn up for his criminal defamation trial. Raja Petra, 59, had on July 17 last year claimed trial to three counts of criminal defamation over his statutory declaration on the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu. He is alleged to have defamed Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in a libellous statement in a declaration he affirmed on June 18. He also faces two similar charges pertaining to Lt-Kol Norhayati Hassan and her husband Lt-Kol Abdul Aziz Buyong. The Sessions Court on Friday July 3, 2009 also granted a similar order to the prosecution to serve a showcause letter on Raja Petra’s wife and bailor Marina Lee Abdullah for her absence to explain his non-attendance. VIA
Raja Petra Kamarudin,58, boycotts trial and failed to appear in court for his trial on sedition charges. He is a member of royalty and this self-imposed exile is a punishment he has handed out to himself. He is accused of publishing the article Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell on the website www.malaysia-today.net. The charge under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or three years' jail or both upon conviction.
He wrote on his blog that he believed he would not receive a fair trial and so would go into "self-exile". The Malaysia Today editor admitted in his news portal that he would not be attending the hearings not only because of his brush with the palace but also due to his fear of another Internal Security Act (ISA) arrest. The Sessions Court then issued a warrant of arrest against Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin on Thursday April 23, 2009. DPP Shahidani Aziz asked for a warrant of arrest to be issued against Raja Petra and a notice of showcause for his wife and bailor Marina. The judge granted both and set May 22 for mention. VIA
Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin was ordered to pay RM1mil on Thursday April 4, 2009 awarded in Norhatini chambers. Azim filed a writ of summons and statement of claim against Raja Petra on March 4 last year. Umno treasurer Seri Abdul Azim Mohd gets RM1mil in libel damages against Raja Petra. VIA
Lawyer for the Shaariibuu family Karpal Singh said the person who had the motive to kill Altantuya should be implicated and convicted with the two Special Action Force officers. Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 32 and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 36 didn’t even know the slained Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu. Dr Shaariibuu, the deceased father would proceed with the application for a judicial review of the Attorney-General’s decision not to file an appeal against the acquittal of Abdul Razak Baginda on Oct 31 last year. Karpal is confident the appeal is valid against preliminary objection that the A-G’s decision cannot be reviewed by court. A civil suit asking for damages for the children of Altantuya has also being filed. VIA
Today, Thursday April 9, 2009, chief Inspector Azilah Hadri,32, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 36,(both Special Action Squad members ) were found guilty and sentenced to death for the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu by Justice Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin. The duo were charged with murdering Altantuya, who was 28 then, between Lot 12843 and Lot 16735 Mukim Bukit Raja near here, between 10 pm, Oct 19 and 1 am, Oct 20, 2006. They are now kept in the Kajang prison awaiting their appeal. If unsuccessful they will be hung by the neck until they are dead. On Oct 31, 2008, the political analyst, executive director of Malaysian Strategic Research Centre (MSRC), Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 48, were free of abetment charge in the murder of Altantuya.
Azilah testify on Jan 15, stated that he had no motive to kill or destroy the woman and instead he only met Altantuya to advise her not to harass Abdul Razak nor create a distturbances outside the latter's home. And that he acted on oeder by a superior, DSP Musa Safri to help Abdul Razak. Sirul Azhar claimed he had been made the sacrificial lamb in the murder in court defence. Azilah has been imprisoned at the Sungai Buloh Prison for 891 days while Sirul Azhar 895 days. VIA the Star
External Links:
Death for Azilah/Sirul - intensify demand for RCI into allegations of Najib’s involvement in Altantuya C4 murder case
Azilah & Sirul: so calm when sentenced to death!
Show the faces of those who murdered Altantuya!
June 16 to hear Altantuya trial objections
The High Court, Judge Datuk Noraini Abdul Rahman fixed June 16, 2009 to hear preliminary objections by a senior federal counsel on Shaariibuu Setev's leave application for a judicial review. The review is to challenge the attorney-general's decision not to appeal against the acquittal of Abdul Razak Baginda for abetting in the murder of his daughter. On Dec 24, 2008 Setev filed the application through his counsel Karpal Singh, and named the A-G and Razak as respondents. VIA
GOBIND Singh Deo (DAP – Puchong) has been suspended for a year for alleging that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was involved in a murder case and being in contempt of the House on Tuesday March 17, 2009. Dewan Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia called for a voice vote at 1pm in the midst of intense uproar and the Opposition staging a walk-out. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz later told reporters that Gobind Singh’s suspension was because he had abused his immunity as an MP and that Gobind Singh’s statement was malafide or made in bad faith.
April 9, 2009 decision date for murder accused Azilah and Sirul Two police special action unit operatives accused of murdering Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu will know their fate on April 9. At the outset of the proceedings yesterday, DPP Manoj Kurup submitted that the guilt of both the accused — Chief Insp Azilah Hadri and Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar — had been proven beyond all reasonable doubt. On the basis 1)C/Insp Azilah, 32, failed to call his alibi witnesses. 2) C/Insp Azilah had displayed “selective memory” in his evidence which was nothing more than an attempt to show there was no pre-arranged plan between him and co-accused Kpl Sirul to execute Altantuya. Lawyer Datuk Hazman Ahmad, who acted for C/Insp Azilah, submitted that his client had no intention of killing her. There was no eye witness and neither was his DNA found at crime scene to prove his link to the murder. And that there is no evidence to say that Azilah was ordered by Razak to commit the murder and he is only a police officer who offered help due to a request from DSP Musa.
The finding of Altantuya’s jewellery and watch in Kpl Sirul's jacket, the presence of the deceased’s DNA on the inside of the Kpl Sirul’s jacket and the finding of bloodstains on a pair of slippers obtained from his jeep -- taken together completely demolishes his statement that he has nothing to do with her murder, according to DPP Manoj. On Monday February 17, 2009, Kpl Sirul’s lawyer Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin had made a submission asking the court to declare a mistrial and order three men, including political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, to be retried over her killing. On the basis 1) Kpl Sirul, 36, was only a “patsy” (a person who takes the blame) for a crime committed by others. 2) The prosecution did not provide complete evidence about Altantuya’s murder but just wanted the people to believe that Kpl Sirul was involved in her killing and succeeded in disposing all physical evidence later. 3) Kpl Sirul had no motive to murder Altantuya. 4) That the case should be retried as a material witness, DSP Musa Mohd Safri, who is a minister’s aide-de-camp, was not called to give his evidence in the murder trial. 5) That there was constant communication between Razak and DSP Musa in the form of text messages and only the senior police officer could have shed light on the details.
PRIVATE investigator P. Balasubra- maniam who is currently who is believed to be in Thailand after giving two contradictory statutory declarations on the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu is entitled to seek protection under the Witness Protection Bill that was passed Tuesday March 23, 2009.
Sessions Court to jointly hear Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin’s cases on May 26, 2009The three criminal defamation charges Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin is facing will be jointly heard at a Sessions Court here for three days from May 26. Raja Petra had failed in his bid on Feb 13 to get his cases transferred back to the Magistrates Court for trial. Raja Petra, 59, is alleged to have defamed the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in the declaration affirmed on June 18. He also faces two similar charges.
Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin claimed the prosecution was deliberately delaying his sedition trial when the complainant in his case was not available to be questioned by his defence team on Thursday December 18, 2008. The former ISA detainee had on May 6 claimed trial to publishing a seditious article on his Malaysia Today news portal on April 25. He is accused of publishing the article Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell on the website www.malaysia-today.net. Raja Petra pleaded not guilty and he protested the delay. DPP Roslan Mat Nor said the prosecution did not intend to delay the trial and that Supt Gan was not subpoenaed for the trial as he was attending training in Taiwan which would end on Dec 21. DPP Roslan said the prosecution was asking for a two-week adjournment to allow the seventh witness, computer forensic investigator Asst Supt Wa’ie Isqal Kria Abdullah, to extract documents from two computers seized from Raja Petra as ordered by the court earlier. Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo asked the court to direct the prosecution to close the case if they were unable to call Supt Gan to be cross-examined. He contended that Supt Gan is aware that the hearing has been fixed for four days but he deliberately chose to go away. He is a police officer and should know the procedure. Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob said Supt Gan was not subpoened and set three days from Feb 10 for continuation of the trial. VIA
Dr Shaariibuu Setev, Altantuya’s dad has instructed lawyer Karpal Singh, who held a watching brief during the trial, to apply for a review. This means Abdul Razak Baginda may well find himself back in the trial if the application for a mandamus order to make the prosecutor appeal the judge’s decision to acquit Razak is successful. Karpal Singh, adding that they had 40 days from Nov 14 to file the application.
MURDER TRIAL OF Altantuya, the MONGOLIAN BEAUTY-
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Tuesday November 25, 2008 Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin’s lawyer has asked for a stay on the defamation trial in the Sessions Court on grounds that it may be sub judice to the Altantuya Sharriibuu murder trial. Raja Petra is accused of defaming Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife, in a statutory declaration affirmed on June 18. Raja Petra also faces similar charges brought against him by Kol Norhayati Hassan and her husband Acting Kol Abdul Aziz Buyong of the army. Manjeet submitted that Sessions judge Mohamad could either send the case back to the magistrate’s court or order a stay of proceedings and transmit the record to the High Court to determine whether the transfer was valid. Sunday November 23, 2008 Private investigator P. Balasubramaniam is a free man and can remain overseas as he has not been charged with any crime, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar. On Thursday, Syed Hamid told Parliament that police went to Bangkok in July to record Balasubra–maniam’s statement on his two contradictory statutory declarations on the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, which were made less than 24 hours apart. Saturday November 15, 2008 Justice Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin had ruled that parts of the tell-all affidavit made by Abdul Razak at the outset of the trial had cleared him of the charge. Lead prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah said the Shah Alam High Court, which acquitted Abdul Razak two weeks ago, had made a finding of fact in its decision and has confirmed that the prosecution will not appeal against his acquittal of an abetment charge in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. Tuesday November 11, 2008 Kamarul Hisham, Kpl Sirul Azhar’s counsel, told the court they wanted to call Balasubramaniam and Raja Petra over their statutory declarations with regard to the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial. On Oct 31, at the close of the prosecution’s case, the judge had acquitted political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda of abetment of the murder but ordered the two remaining defendants, C/Insp Azilah Hadri and Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar to make their defence. Yesterday, High Court Justice Zaki Md Yasin postponed the trial to Jan 15 to give the two defendants more time to prepare their case. C/Insp Azilah’s counsel Datuk Hazman Ahmad said they were going for an alibi defence – that his client was somewhere else during the murder – and that it had nothing to do with Raja Petra or Balasubramaniam. He would be calling eight witnesses. |
Nov 7, 2008-Raja Petra Kamaruddin, was Friday released from detention under controversial internal security laws after a court ruled the government had no right to hold him. High Court judge Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad on Friday morning ordered for Raja Petra to be brought to the Shah Alam High Court before 4pm for his immediate release. It was the first time a court has ordered the release of an ISA detainee since 1989, when courts were barred from interfering once a detention order has been signed by the home minister. Raja Petra is best known for his articles on politics, and had already been charged with sedition and defamation for linking Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife to the sensational murder of a Mongolian woman. Raja Petra was detained on Sept 12 on the grounds that he had intentionally and recklessly published articles which were critical and insulted Muslims, the purity of Islam and the personality of Prophet Muhammad. Scroll down for previous posting.
Updated: Friday October 31, 2008 MYT 10:58:13 AM-The judge ruled that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda. He is therefore acquitted of the murder abetment charge in the murder case of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin ruled that the exculpatory statements in a tell-all affidavit made by Razak at the outset of the trial had cleared him of the abetment charge. The tell-all affidavit which Abdul Razak filed at the start of the trial saying he had an affair with Altantuya after meeting her in 2004, said they had trysts in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and France, but broke up in 2005. The court has decided a prima facie against C/Insp Azilah Hadri and Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, members of the Special Action Squad (UTK) , they were ordered to enter their defence against the murder charge. Both of them chose to testify under oath. Trial has been set for Nov 10 onwards.
Anwar speaks to the press before court session in his Sodomy trial transfer video
In KUALA LUMPUR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wished Abdul Razak Baginda and his family well but said that the Altantuya murder case still had many unanswered questions. Anwar said that there were many suspicious issues surrounding the case. “There is a growing perception that the investigation wasn’t done professionally. “The prosecution had failed to conduct the case professionally from the beginning,” he told reporters at the Jalan Duta court complex on Friday.
Anwar said that there had been changes made to members of the prosecuting team as well as the court and the judge. “There is a clear motive to cover up,” he said. He added that this case was particularly of concern as there was new evidence involving Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. “The case is clearly bigger,” he said.
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VIA2
Abdul Razak Baginda acquitted videos
Excerpt from ChannelNewsAsia. Download CNA Report in PDF
Karpal Singh, a lawyer representing Altantuya's family, said that based on the evidence Abdul Razak should have been called to defend the accusations. "They should not have acquitted him at this stage of the trial," he said. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tun Majid Tun Hamzah said the decision could be contested. "We will consider appealing the decision. The battle is not over yet," he said. Najib, who is expected to be appointed premier next March when Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stands down, has vehemently denied any involvement in the case. Malaysia's top blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin has repeatedly linked Najib and his wife to the murder on his popular website Malaysia Today. He was jailed in September under tough security laws for insulting Islam. Abdullah last month defended his deputy over new allegations that Najib interfered in the case, after Malaysia Today published an SMS text message exchange purportedly between the deputy premier and Abdul Razak's lawyer.
See Altantuya’s father Setev left speechless
| Comments from *SUSAN LOONE’s Blog*“may the truth save us all”
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The judge will deliver the verdict on Oct 31, 2008
| Verdict On Friday For Altantuya's Murder Trial
Posted by kasee Wednesday, 29 October 2008 17:43 Zalina Maizan Ngah, Bernama The Shah Alam High Court will be at the centre of attention this Friday when judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin delivers the verdict on the sensational murder trial of a Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu. Mohd Zaki's verdict will not only decide the fate of the three accused - Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar (both members of the Special Action Unit, UTK) and a renowned political analyst and strategist Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda - but will also end wild speculations and rumours relating to the case. This high-profile case has generated a big following especially when there were rumours of a public figure linked to the murder, revelations of intimate involvement of one of the accused with the victim and some shady business dealings. The trial on the gruesome murder of Altantuya who body was blown up using explosives to cover up the crime went on for almost two years with the prosecution winding up their case on June 23. If the court's decides a prima facie against the trio, they will have to make their defence or if otherwise they will be discharged and freed. KEEPING UP THEIR HOPES When inquired by Bernama on the sidelines of the court proceedings what they would do if they were freed, Azilah, 32, who has an adopted child stated that "there are too many things to do, but above all I want to cuddle my child and hold a thanksgiving feast". Sirul Azhar, 36, when asked the same only offered a smile, typical of this former aide de camp for VIPs who is known to be discreet. On the dock he sits quietly and once in a while he turns toward the members of the media sitting behind him to ask for sweets and pickled fruits. Meanwhile Abdul Razak, 48, the Executive Director for Malaysian Strategic Research Centre wants to take a break overseas with his only daughter Rowena when everything is over. Throughout the trial, Abdul Razak was accompanied by his wife Mazlinda Makhzan, his parents and close family members. However, at the initial stages, Mazlinda's presence made Altantuya's father, Shaariibuu Setev frown as he claimed she had verbally abused him and court officers went all out to keep them apart. Even when Mazlinda was asked on the fate of her husband, she replied: "I will leave it to Allah. Razak is innocent." Yet the drama did not end there. The 151 day proceeding witnessed many bizarre and hilarious incidents. Apart from this there was also a change in the presiding judge and the clash between two counsels on who should be representing one of the accused. BIZARRE INCIDENTS Abdul Razak caught the attention of the media with some of his antics in the courtroom. He had been noted to throw tantrums and even went to the extent of kicking the dock and cursing others. He kept pushing his counsel Wong Kian Kheong to speed up the trial without any deferment and this certainly incensed Deputy Public Prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah who ticked of Wong by saying that Abdul Razak is not the only person in prison. The media hype had certainly attracted the wrong type of crowd into the courtroom as well. It was obvious some wanted to take advantage of the media coverage to be on the limelight, but for the wrong reasons. Readers would probably recall the presence of a woman dressed like a counsel claiming that she was a representative of peace organisation and had the authority of the police and the Attorney-General's Department. She wanted the media attention and would closely follow the cameras and even refused to take a back seat. When there were no seats available she would insist the court officials to make special seating arrangements for her. Her presence was unwelcome and she even dared to intercept the judge. When her behaviour became intolerable, not only because of her constant nagging but also her handphone that rang often, a police report was made and she eventually disappeared. During the initial stages of the hearing there appeared another woman who claimed that she was a representative of a women's right organisation carrying a placard condemning Abdul Razak for the brutal slaying of Altantuya. The one-woman demonstration did not go down well with the police as it was seen as disturbing the public order and the police gave her a warning and told her to leave the court compound. However, the woman in her late 40s remained unfazed and instead shouted back at the unarmed policemen, "I have the rights, you police can stop me using your firearms, let the public be the witness". 151 DAY TRIAL Azilah and Sirul Azhar who covered their faces using the 'ninja' mask set a new trend for accused in other cases and when inquired by Bernama why they did so Azilah had this to say: "Life is long way to go, there are some things best kept secret." Another drama that unfolded at the 151 day trial was that a policeman stationed at the courtroom Lans Corporal Othman Abdul Rahman, 47, collapsed when accompanying the three accused to the courtroom and was later confirmed dead due to heart failure. Azilah and Sirul Azhar were alleged to have murdered Altantuya between Lot 12843 and Lot 16735 Mukim Bukit Raja, Shah Alam, between 10 pm 19 Oct and 1 am 20 Oct 2006. The duo was well versed in the use of explosives and was said to have taken the plastic explosives, detonator cord and CLC (cutting liner charge) from the UTK storeroom. Abdul Razak who is alleged to have abetted with the two UTK members, is said to have committed the crime on Oct 18 2006 at his office at 10th Floor, Bangunan Lembaga Getah Asli Malaysia (LGAM), Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur and the motive of the murder is due to demands and threats from Altantuya. Based on the evidence adduced from the prosecution witness Deputy Superintendent Muhammad Koey Abdullah, the explosives were probably placed in the victim's mouth or the upper torso and the impact reduced her bones to fragments. On the puzzle why no traces of the victim's clothing were found, Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood, the Head of the Forensic Medical Department at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL), explained the victim was probably stripped of her clothing before being blown up. JUDGE TO PORE OVER 6,000 PAGES OF PROCEEDING NOTES However, lawyer J. Kuldeep Kumar and Datuk Hazman Ahmad who represented Azilah were persistent that their client was no way involved in the murder and the Azilah was not the one who led the police to the crime scene. Sirul Azhar's counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, Hasnal Redzua Marican and Ahmad Zaidi Zainal pleaded their client's innocence and stated that he was victimised just because Altantuya's jewellery were found his home. On Atlantuya's blood stained sneakers found on Sirul Azhar's four wheel drive, they claimed anyone could have left it there as the vehicle could be accessed by others as well. Wong who represented Abdul Razak held that his client had nothing to do with Altantuya's murder and throughout the trial there was no proof that the murder was carried out under Abdul Razak's behest. He also questioned the failure of the prosecution to call several senior police officers during the trial. Nevertheless, Mohd Zaki will make his decision based on the evidence provided by the 84 witnesses that has been compiled into 6,000 pages of proceeding notes. Prior to delivering the decision on the main charge, Mohd Zaki is expected to decide on the prosecution's application to challenge the credibility of Lans Corporal Rohaniza Roslan (Azilah's girlfriend), the decision on trial within trial on Altantuya's jewellery found at Sirul Azhar's home and on the statement by police that Azilah is the one who led them to the crime scene. Nonetheless, all the allegations and speculations will be put to rest on Friday when Mohd Zaki delivers his verdict. VIA |
The Court Room Day1-19 June 2007 to Day 139-11 September 2008 VIA
NEW REPORTS:
ARTICLES FROM MY PAPER
Related Post: Altantuya connected to Najib fresh evidence
Article 1: Explosive claims link Najib to Mongolian model
Article 2: Altantuya told PI about involvement with DPM
Article 3: Najib denies relationship with murdered Mongolian model
ARTICLES FROM THE STRAITS TIMES
Article 1: Politicians stick to battle lines over Najib’s alleged role
Article 2: The murder that sparked the fiasco
Article 3: Charge, Countercharge over Altantuya Shaariibuu case - Najib calls private eye’s claims ‘a malicious lie’
Article 4: Charge, Countercharge over Altantuya Shaariibuu case - Najib knew murder victim, claims key witness
Article 5: Anwar, Najib clash over murder cover-up claim
Article 6: No secret report on murder passed to PM, says army
Article 7: PI’s sudden retraction ‘fishy’
Article 8: Private eye retracts stunning allegations against Najib
Article 9: Najib lashes out at private eye’s flip-flop
Article 10: Missing: Private eye who made Najib claims
ARTICLES FROM BERNAMA NEWS AGENCY
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Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin was charged with three counts of criminal defamation over his statutory declaration on the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu. He accused Malaysia's deputy prime minister and his wife of involvement in murder of Altantuya. Raja Petra also claimed to have knowledge that two lieutenant-colonels and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Najib Tun Razak's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor were present when Altantuya's body was blown up on Oct 19 2006 .
| Tuesday, 28 October 2008 -Raja Petra's Lawyer Wants Court To Decide On Section 73(1) Order
(Bernama) A lawyer on Tuesday urged the High Court to decide on the detention order under Section 73(1) of the Internal Security Act used on blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin. Ashok Kandiah insisted that the court here should deal with the case despite the fact that Raja Petra was no longer detained under Section 73(1) but under Section 8(1) of the same Act. Section 73(1) allows the police to detain a suspect for 60 days for investigation while the Section 8(1) order is made by the home minister and the suspect can be detained up to two years in Kamunting. Raja Petra, 58, was arrested on Sept 12 and placed under the Section 73(1) order. He then sought a writ of habeas corpus but later, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar issued the Section 8(1) order. Because of Ashok's insistence, Judge Suraya Othman fixed Nov 25 for decision whether she would hear the application which Senior Federal Counsel Abdul Wahab Mohamad described as purely academic. Raja Petra has also filed a second habeas corpus application against the Section 8(1) order and Justice Datuk Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad is due to deliver his decision Nov 7. VIA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday October 22, 2008- Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin lead counsel Malik Imtiaz Sarwar argued that it was questionable as to whether the Home Minister could order Raja Petra’s two-year detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Malik Imtiaz submitted that the detention was unconstitutional as follows: 1) If Petra had insulted Islam, he should have been dealt with by the Selangor religious authority. 2) As Raja Petra resided in Selangor, it was clear that the Federal Government had no authority over the matter. 3) it contravened the Federal Constitution which guaranteed Raja Petra his rights to freedom of speech and expression, and to profess and practise his religion -- and was therefore void. Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad set Nov 7 for the decision. Source: The Star ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday October 6, 2008- Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Raja Petra Kamarudin will be brought to the Sessions Court in Petaling Jaya for a sedition trial today. Court proceedings are scheduled to start at 9am. The Malaysia Today editor, 58, who is being held at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak, was charged on May 6 over his online posting about the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. Source: The Star |
06 October 2008 Raja Petra Kamaruddin, founder of the popular Malaysia Today site pleaded not guilty to the sedition charge lodged over an article published in April entitled "Let's Send the Altantuya Murderers to Hell." The hearing will continue at least until the end of the week and the court will then decide whether the case goes to trial. Petra has also been held in detention since August under tough internal security laws. Lawyers said that Malaysia's Sedition Act, a relic from British colonial times, has historically been used to prevent uprising against the leadership, as well as disharmony among the people. The ISA, which human rights groups have pushed to have abolished, allows for renewable two-year periods of detention without trial and is normally used against terrorism suspects. If convicted of sedition, Raja Petra faces a three-year jail term. VIA
Wednesday September 24, 2008 Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin was sent to the Kamunting detention camp late on Monday night after the Home Minister signed a two-year detention order under the Internal Security Act (ISA) because his articles ridiculed Islam, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar. Yesterday, DPP Abdul Wahab Mohamad used the new detention order(Under Section 8(1) of the Act, the minister can order a detention to prevent that person from acting in a manner prejudicial to the country’s security.) as a preliminary objection to the blogger’s habeas corpus application in the High Court saying Raja Petra was no longer detained by the police under the Section 73(1) of the ISA. DPP Abdul Wahab told Justice Suraya Othman any illegality in the prior arrest and detention cannot be the subject matter of an inquiry; any previous issues which transpired before the issuance of the detention order cannot be subject to judicial inquiry. Raja Petra’s wife, Mable @ Marina Lee Abdullah, said she believed that Raja Petra was detained under the ISA on Sept 12 to silence him as well as to extract information on his sources. Raja Petra lead counsel Malik Imtiaz Sarwar would file a habeas corpus application for his client under Section 8 of the Act, adding there is no evidence to suggest that he (Raja Petra) is a threat to national security. He just put in his comments. In Kuala Lumpur, former de facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said he felt sorry for Raja Petra, adding that Malaysia “needs more people like him”. “Instead of detaining him, we should encourage more people to speak out. If he has done wrong, then charge him,” he said.
He added that freedom of speech and expression were important values in society. Source: The Star.
Friday September 12, 2008 Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin was arrested Friday afternoon under the Internal Security Act. Three Malaysian newspapers - Sin Chew Daily, The Sun and Suara Keadilan - were also issued show cause letters by the Home Ministry. Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar told The Star Raja Petra was detained under Section 73 (1) of the ISA as he was deemed a threat to security, peace and public order. VIA
Thursday September 11, 2008 The Cabinet has ordered the Multimedia and Communications Commission (MCMC) to reinstate access to all blocked websites, including the controversial Malaysia Today news portal. Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin said he was not surprised with the “flip flop decision” and considered the whole situation as ridiculous. Those who wanted to access his website could continue to do so at http://mt.m2day.org/2008/ as he would leave the old website as it is. VIA
Thursday August 28, 2008:Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin lashed out against the blocking of the online portal, saying it was a breach of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) charter.Under the MSC Malaysia 10-Point Bill of Guarantees, it is stated that as part of its commitment to ensuring the success of MSC Status companies, the Government promised to “ensure no Internet censorship”. All 21 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country have been ordered by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to block the controversial Malaysia Today website. Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin was charged with three counts of criminal defamation over his statutory declaration on the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu. He accused Malaysia's deputy prime minister and his wife of involvement in murder of Altantuya. Raja Petra also claimed to have knowledge that two lieutenant-colonels and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Najib Tun Razak's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor were present when Altantuya's body was blown up on Oct 19 2006. Malaysia Today has launched a mirror site which can be easily accessed. Sign this petition to the Agong
| Saturday August 16, 2008-Raja Petra, 58, repeatedly refused to enter a plea after he was recharged with three counts of criminal defamation over his statutory declaration on the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu. He is alleged to have defamed the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor by making a libellous statement in the declaration, which he affirmed on June 18. He also faces two similar charges against Kolonel Norhayati Hassan and her husband Acting Kolonel Abdul Aziz Buyong. The court set two days from Nov 24 for a joint trial. VIA
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Updated Wednesday July 23
July 23 court briefing. The trial has resumed with Court Rejects Karpal’s application
| Wednesday July 23, 2008 MYT 8:07:38 PM
Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin rejected the motion filed by Karpal Singh, saying he was of the view that such applications must be made by the prosecution or the defence. Karpal Singh, who is holding a watching brief for the family of the slain Mongolian woman, had applied to summon private investigator P. Balasubramaniam to give evidence in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial including Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Deputy Supt Musa Safri, lawyer Dhiren Rene Norendra and one DSP Idris to testify as witnesses. Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin rejected the motion filed by Karpal Singh, saying he was of the view that such applications must be made by the prosecution or the defence. “Counsel holding a watching brief for the family, in my view, is excluded,” the judge said after hearing preliminary objections from the prosecution and the defence on Wednesday. VIA |
Latest 4 :Tuesday July 22, 2008
| Tuesday July 22, 2008 Najib to appear as witness in Altantuya murder trial
Karpal Singh has filed a notice of motion to recall private investigator P. Balasubramaniam to give evidence in the murder case.An application seek for the judge invokes his powers under the Criminal Procedure Code Section 425 to recall Balasubramaniam and further examine him as a witness in view of his first Statutory Declaration (SD) made on July 1. The application, which was filed with the Registrar’s Office in the High Court here on Tuesday July 22, 2008, also asked the court to summon Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Brickfields police's criminal division head DSP Musa Safri, CID chief DSP Idris Adul Karim and lawyer Dhiren Rene Norendra. This application was made on the grounds of public interest as in the first SD, the former policeman linked Najib to the murdered Mongolian woman. Also on the July 4 SD the court is to re-evaluate P. Balasubramaniam evidence given in court in view of the conflicting SDs that throws a shadow of doubt over the evidence he gave in court as a key witness of his first Statutory Declaration (SD) made on July 1. VIA |
Latest 3 :Thursday July 17, 2008 MYT 7:13:40 PM
Raja Petra charged & released. Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin was charged with three counts of criminal defamation over his statutory declaration on the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.He is alleged to have defamed Deputy Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor by making a libellous statement in the declaration which he affirmed on June 18 when he knew that it would tarnish her good name.The father of five also faces two other similar charges against Kolonel Norhayati Hassan and her husband Acting Kolonel Abdul Aziz Buyong.The news portal editor was said to have committed the offences at High Court (Civil 5) in Jalan Duta court complex at 10.25am on June 18.Raja Petra told magistrate Nazran Mohd Sham that he refused to record his plea on the grounds that the charges against him. Nazran granted a bail of RM2,000 in one surety for him and set Aug 15 for mention.Raja Petra's wife, Marina Lee Abdullah, 54, signed his bail papers.Upon release from bail at 3.45pm, Raja Petra smiled and said his wife changed his mind about the bail.Raja Petra, 58, however, refused to record his plea at the Jalan Duta court complex here on Thursday. were both defective and mala fide (in bad faith). VIA
Latest 2 : Thursday July 17, 2008 MYT 11:08:51 AM
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin
was arrested Thursday morning under Section 500 of the Penal Code for criminal defamation, and is now on the way to the Jalan Duta Courts to be charged.The charge was being made over his June 18 statutory declaration on the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.In the declaration, Raja Petra claimed to have knowledge that two lieutenant-colonels and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Najib Tun Razak's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor were present when Altantuya's body was blown up on Oct 19, 2006.VIA
May 6 - A blogger who accused Malaysia's deputy prime minister and his wife of involvement in murder is in jail awaiting trial.
Raja Petra Kamaruddin, popularly known as RPK in the cyber world, has been formally charged with sedition over the article on his independent news site Malaysia Today (www.malaysia-today.net).Source:Reuter
Latest 1: See Altantuya connected to Najib fresh evidence
Updated:3:50 PM 12-Mar-08
Altantuya’s trial is postponed AGAIN by Judge Zaki Mohd Yakin to March 17!!
Did Najib order the postponement of the Altantuya trial?
| Fake photograph linking Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to Altantuya Shaaribuu in his web blog.
Tian Chua: I won’t apologise Friday July 6, 2007 KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) information head Tian Chua has refused to apologise for publishing the fake photograph linking Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to Altantuya Shaaribuu in his web blog.  This the original photo of Najib used to fake the one in Tian Chua's blog.
Anwar to Najib: Explain photo with Altantuya Jun 29, 07 7:28pm He admitted that the photograph, which he had created personally, was merely fantasy and a work of art but insisted he would not retract the photograph or apologise to anyone. “I did it myself and it was not done professionally. If there had been such a dinner, that is how it will be perceived. The woman in the photograph was not the real Altantuya,” he said at the PKR office here. On Wednesday, several members of Parliament had lambasted a PKR leader for deriding a national leader by publishing the fake photograph of Najib being flanked by murdered Mongolian woman, Altantuya, and political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda. – Bernama VIA |
| Altantuya Shaariibuu Murder Trial Hearing On March 10, 2008
The date for the hearing of the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial has been fixed for four weeks starting from March 10, 2008, by Shah Alam High Court judge Justice K.N. Segara. The RM1mil bail for political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, who is charged with abetting in the murder of the Mongolian beauty, expired today and the court ordered him to be remanded at Sungei Buloh prison. Razak Baginda looked visibly upset and shocked when the order was announced. There has been no formal application yet from his lawyer for it to be extended. It is understood that his counsel will file an application on Monday 8th January. More details are available on the Harakah website. Source THE MALAYSIAN |
The case was then transferred to the Shah Alam High Court and all the three men were charged under Sect 302 of the Penal Code, which carry the mandatory death sentence upon conviction. Drama soon followed. Razak Baginda was allowed to be controversially released on RM one million bail on 15 December 2006 (until 5 Jan 2007 where the case will be mentioned again) by High Court Judicial Commissioner Mohd Zaki Yassin, only to be revoked by High Court Justice K. N. Segara a month later and upheld by a three man Court of Appeal led by Justice Mokhtar Sidin. He then produced an affidavit that he knew the woman and had an affair with her.
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Who is Abdul Razak Baginda? Abdul Razak Baginda (b. 1960) is a former political analyst from Malaysia, and close associate of the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. He became a household name in Malaysia in 2006 when he was charged with abetting the murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu, a Mongolian woman who worked with him on a defense deal. He is now in prison. Baginda, as he is often known, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in politics and government from City Polytechnic, London and graduated in 1982. He continued to study and gained a master's degree in War Studies at King's College London in 1984. He subsequently began a D.Phil in International Relations at Trinity College, Oxford, but did not complete. In 1988, Baginda joined the Malaysian Armed Forces Defense College as a lecturer and eventually as the head of strategic studies. In 1993, he formed a think tank called the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre, which is based in Kuala Lumpur. It is responsible for the publication of many books on topics that include international relations, and such like. They regularly organise seminars on a myriad of local and international issues. In 2002, his name was mentioned in the Malaysian Parliament for brokering the purchase of French Scorpene submarines by the Royal Malaysian Navy, in a deal estimated to be worth USD800 million. He is also known to be an advisor to Najib Tun Razak. He is married to Mazlinda, a lawyer and former magistrate and they have one daughter born in 1987. His reported friendship with Altantuya ended and subsequently led her to begin harassing him. He then asked for help from the police, and this led to the murder and blowing up of her body allegedly by two officers from the special action unit (Unit Tindakan Khas). They were then serving as body guards of Najib. The officers have been charged with the murder, and Abdul Razak Baginda has been charged with abetting them. The charges carry a mandatory death penalty. If convicted, all three would be sentenced to death. He has since admitted to the relationship, which ended in about 2005. Baginda's family is hugely supportive of him and has maintained his innocence in the murder. The case is still ongoing. Razak Baginda is a recipient of the Legion d'Honneur for his intellectual contribution. |
Police reports indicate that Altantuya arrived in Malaysia on October 6, 2006, accompanied by a cousin, to search for a Malaysian man who she had met in Mongolia.
After the young woman went missing, the cousin contacted the police and also the Mongolian embassy in Bangkok, seeking assistance.
In a startling development, two federal policemen have been charged with the murder. Additionally, a local political analyst has been charged with assisting in the murder. Sh.Altantuya has been murdered on 19th October 2006.
Dr. Setev, the dead girl’s father, serves as director of the National University of Mongolia's Information and Educational Center.
| Source Malaysians Unplug
Excerpts: "...The Razak Baginda murder trial will not augur well for Najib (Deputy Prime Minister). Evidence that Najib issued a letter asking the Immigration Department to issue the murdered girl a visa is in the possession of those who want to send Najib into early retirement. Evidence that Najib, Razak and the murdered girl made an overseas trip together is also in these same hands. This evidence can of course be quashed if Najib makes a voluntary exit. Then again, if he resists, this evidence can be adduced in court and Najib may risk more than just his job as Deputy Prime Minister. One thing that would be most difficult to explain is the meeting the Chief Inspector and Razak Baginda, now both facing murder charges, had in Najib’s office where the former admitted he had killed six people before this. In spite of this confession he was still engaged to assist Razak Baginda in solving his problem with the Mongolian girl. This, plus the overseas trip they made together and Najib’s letter to the Immigration Department point to a conspiracy at the highest level ..... " Read here for more |
This is Malaysia's murder of the century. Altantuya, a Mongolian national, single mother of two sons, was allegedly shot twice in the head and blown up with C4 explosives on 19 October 2006. She was allegedly murdered by two special task force policemen, abetted by political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, close associate of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. Except for her family and friends, Malaysians do not know how Altantuya look like, or who she is. This video was produced by her father Mr. Stev Shariibuu, in memory of his loving daughter. May her soul rest in peace. May justice prevail for Altantuya and her family.
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NST Online » Local News 2007/12/04 Altantuya murder trial: 'Men in CCTV are Azilah and Sirul' By : A. Hafiz Yatim SHAH ALAM: Police superintendent Amidon Anan told the High Court yesterday that he could positively identify Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, who was at Hotel Malaya where Altantuya Shaariibuu stayed. He said Azilah was his subordinate in the 1990s. Amidon said Azilah was an investigating officer at the Sepang district police station while he was deputy head of the Selangor Serious Crimes Division. Amidon, 56, who is now the Crime Scene Investigation head at Bukit Aman, said he often met Azilah in robbery and murder cases. "Azilah would contact me when he needed help from the forensic division. I have taught and guided him to be an investigating officer for more than 10 years," he said.\ "Using the expertise that I have gained and using the conventional way of monitoring the video recordings of Hotel Malaya's closed circuit television, I can positively identify Azilah." Amidon, who was the 58th prosecution witness, said he spent five hours watching the CCTV video recording, and said he could also positively identify Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar. Azilah, 31, and Sirul, 36, are charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, at Mukim Bukit Raja between 10pm on Oct 19 last year and 1am the following day. Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, 47, is accused of abetting them. Amidon said the CCTV recording was made at the hotel between 4.50pm and 5pm on Oct 18, 2006, a day before Altantuya was murdered. He said although he did not know Sirul before Altantuya's case, he could identify that the man was the same person wearing the yellow T-shirt in the CCTV recording. "Sirul has a large forehead and broad shoulders and this is consistent with the video recordings. "Azilah, meanwhile, has an oval face and he is of small built. I am confident about my identification of Azilah and Sirul in the CCTV video to be conclusive," he said in reply to deputy public prosecutor Noorin Badaruddin during re-examination. Earlier, during cross-examination by counsel Datuk Hazman Ahmad, who is representing Azilah, and counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, who is representing Sirul, Amidon agreed that his finding could be inconclusive. This, he said, was because he was not a forensic video anthropologist. Amidon said forensic anthropology was one of the ways of identifying video recordings but he was accustomed to the traditional way. Replying to questions from judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin, Amidon said Altantuya's vertebrae was found at the "seat of the explosion" (where Altantuya was placed before she was blown up). "Some of her hair and bone fragments were found in a two to 19-metre radius from the seat of explosion," he said. Another witness, Deputy Superintendent Muhammad Koey Abdullah, a former Post Blast Investigation head, said besides the General Operations Force, the Special Action Squad and Commando 69 used high explosives in the police force. Hearing continues. |
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June 19, 2007 Mongolian woman demanded $770,000 before murder  Prosecutors say that Abdul Razak (above) planned Ms Altantuya's murder and ordered the two police officers to carry it out
SHAH ALAM - A MONGOLIAN woman demanded US$500,000 (S$770,000) from her ex-lover, two days before she was murdered, a court was told on Tuesday. Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, made the demand after causing a commotion outside the home of Abdul Razak Baginda. Abdul Razak, 47, is charged with abetting her murder. Prosecutors say that Abdul Razak planned Ms Altantuya's murder and ordered the two police officers - members of a special unit charged with protecting the country's leaders - to carry it out. The woman was killed by 'probable blast-related' injuries in Shah Alam district, south-west of the capital Kuala Lumpur, prosecutors say. Mr Abdul Razak, a political analyst, is close to Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has vehemently denied any involvement in the case. Altantuya created 'a commotion' Investigator P. Balasubramaniam, the first prosecution witness called to testify, told the court on Tuesday that Mr Abdul Razak hired him to keep the woman away from him. On Tuesday, Mr Balasubramaniam testified that he was hastily summoned by his client on Oct 17 last year to remove the woman making a scene outside his home. Mr Balasubramaniam said that when he reached the house he saw Ms Altantuya 'creating a commotion' on the street. 'She was shouting ?Razak bastard you come out. I want to speak to you.? She was very angry,' he said. He said shortly afterward police arrived and took her to a police station where she was released without charge. She 'demanded US$500,000 and three air tickets to Mongolia', he said. The investigator did not state why she made the demand but earlier testified Mr Abdul Razak hired him 'because the woman has been harassing him for money'. 'He told me he would discuss with senior police officials that he knew before deciding on the next move,' the investigator testified. Prosecutors allege that the next day, when Ms Altantuya returned to Mr Abdul Razak's house, he called the police. The two accused officers allegedly took her away, never to be seen alive again. Source The Straits Times |
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Monday, June 11, 2007 Altantuya Trial Deferred Again We always encounter some kind of web hosting problem in Ulaanbaatar. Web site is down again. So, I decided to post this here in blogger.com by Choimboroljav Sumiyabazar Editor in Chief of The UB Post. International freelancer. Altantuya Trial Deferred Again IN yet another delay, a Malaysian court postponed on Monday the trial of a prominent political analyst and arms dealer, Abdul Razak Baginda, reported to be a close associate of the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak, on charges of involvement in the murder of Sh.Altantuya, 28. The next hearing has been fixed for June 18. The Malaysian Attorney General, Abdul Gani Patail, had replaced the prosecutors of the case on Sunday, and when the court sat on Monday, the new prosecution team immediately asked for a postponement, saying they had been handed the case only the day before. The new leader of the prosecution team, Tun Majid Tun Hamzah, told the court he did not know why he had suddenly been handed a file containing more than 100 investigation reports. “I was only informed of this yesterday, in the evening when I was on my way home,” he said, asking for one month to prepare his brief. “It’s beyond me. I simply cannot prosecute this case at such short notice,” he told the judge, who agreed to only a two-week postponement. The investigations into the murder so far have raised more questions than they have answered for people both in Mongolia and Malaysia. The Attorney General would only say that he installed the new team to ensure a “fair trial for all parties”. A visibly rattled S.Shaariibuu, father of the brutally slain woman, said the postponement had further eroded his confidence in the official Malaysian handling of the case. He was in the courtroom on Monday along with his human rights lawyer and an interpreter. Wearing a bright yellow shirt and a short brown jacket, and in tinted glasses, the disconsolate father in search of truth and justice said they might return to Ulaanbaatar and come back to Malaysia for the next hearing. In a statement released through the Mongolian Honorary Consul in Malaysia, Shaariibuu said, “I wanted to look the witnesses in the eye, to personally hear them speak. I wanted to hear their stories to satisfy my need to know what really happened.” The postponement was widely covered in the major Mongolian-language newspapers on Tuesday. The mood among the general readers was one of bafflement and incomprehension. It also drew sharp protests from the Government of Mongolia, the family of the victim, and Mongolian lawyers following the case. The Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on the trial on May 21. It said, “The Mongolian people, the world community, and international and regional media are paying particular attention to this case. The Government of Mongolia continues to take all necessary measures in accordance with international law to protect the legitimate interests and the rights of its nationals. We do hope the court procedures will be fair and free from political influence.” The Government also sent a team to Malaysia, including representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to observe the trial, but no official statement was released after the trial was postponed. In November 2006, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a verbal note to its counterpart in Malaysia expressing its deepest concern over the brutal murder, and demanding extensive investigation and fair legal procedures. In December 2006, the Mongolia-Malaysia parliamentary group of the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia made an appeal to members of the Malaysian Parliament to see that due process of law was followed in the police investigation and the trial remained free from political pressure, as there was talk of influential political persons allegedly being involved. On December 8, 2006, the Prime Minister of Mongolia, M.Enkhbold, sent to the Prime Minister of Malaysia a letter expressing his honest hope for a fair investigation followed by unbiased prosecution and just punishment for the murderers and their accomplices. The National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia addressed a letter to the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia requesting it “to make a contribution to solving this horrible crime, to beginning proceedings against ‘bounty hunters’ and to bringing the guilty to justice”. Mongolia has no embassy in Malaysia, its affairs being run by a honorary consulate. The Singapore Straits Times reported on June 2 that the murder trial had become a “political show”. Echoing this, a retired lawyer from Singapore said in his email to the UB Post on Tuesday, “Too much politics is involved. I think this is a political case. I hope your Government will do something... Our thoughts and hearts are with the Altantuya family.” Opposition politicians in Malaysia have also noticed political undercurrents in the trial proceedings. Former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, who leads the opposition forces, said the present postponement was “unprofessional and irresponsible. Malaysia has to understand that the case puts the Malaysian judiciary on trial too.” Altantuya was shot twice in the head and her body then blown up. Military C4 explosives had been fastened to her body which was found in a jungle outside the Malaysian capital last October. Abdul Razak Baginda has been charged with abetting the murder while two policemen have been charged with committing it. All three would receive the death sentence if they are convicted. Apart from Razak’s reported close ties with the Malaysian Deputy Premier the two police officers, significantly enough, had belonged to the elite Special Operations Force which guards Malaysia’s VIPs, and had indeed been assigned to the Deputy Premier’s office. Baginda heads a think-tank linked to him. It is unclear whether Najib Razak, the Deputy Premier, was ever questioned during the investigation. Karpal Singh, who is holding a watching brief for the victim’s family as well as the Mongolian Government, has also not ruled out political considerations creeping into the trial. The Malaysian Government last year purchased two submarines from France in a deal costing nearly 4.6 billion in Malaysia Ringgit or something like US$ 1.3 billion. Altantuya had reportedly been hired by Baginda as an interpreter during negotiations for the deal. It has also been reported in the Malaysian media that its Defence Ministry paid a relatively unknown Malaysian private company US$100 million as a commission for a multi-billion deal involving submarines. The company, Perimekar, is co-owned by Baginda. Altantuya was raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, and educated in Beijing. She could speak four languages fluently. She worked as a freelance interpreter and translator for Baginda. Details of Altantuya’s entry into Malaysia are reported to have been erased from Malaysian immigration records.  This is the picture of the girl sitting on the lap of her Russian teacherin the remote Chimkent city of the Soviet Union.
The victim’s family filed on Monday a RM100 million (US$29 million) civil suit against the three accused and the Malaysian Government for causing them mental shock and trauma. |
| Mongolian beauty’s Malaysian Murder Case Postponed
Source: Asia Sentinel 03 June 2007 Politically charged trial of three accused murderers is delayed as prosecution team is suddenly changed. With the prosecution team abruptly changing hands Monday, a Malaysian High Court judge has granted a two-week postponement of the politically-charged trial of three defendants for the gruesome murder last October of a 28-year-old Mongolian beauty. Adding to the confusion, Zulkifli Noordi, a defense attorney for one of the policemen charged in the case, quit, saying there were "serious attempts by third parties to interfere with the defence I proposed." He didn't elaborate, but said the interference would compromise his ability to act in the case. Judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin granted the postponement although no reason was given for the sudden change in prosecution teams. The new lead prosecutor, Majid Tun Hamzah, told the court he had only been notified of his new responsibility last night as he was on his way home. Majid asked for a month to prepare for the trial but the judge gave him only two weeks because of the problem the postponement posed for foreign witnesses. The trial is now due to start on June 18. The remains of of Altantuya Shaariibuu were found in November in a patch of jungle near the suburban city of Shah Alam. On trial are Abdul Razak Baginda, 46, once the influential head of a well-connected political think-tank and close friend of Najib Abdul Razak, the deputy prime minister; and Azilah Hadri, 31, and Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, who were part of an elite unit that guards Malaysia’s top leaders under Najib’s jurisdiction. Although 132 potential witnesses have been named for the trial, none of them is Najib. Nor has he been questioned, despite the fact that the two policemen answer to him and that Abdul Razak Baginda, one of his closest friends, is charged with abetting the two. Opposition politicians have been demanding answers as to why he hasn’t been called for questioning or as a witness. In an affidavit filed in October, Abdul Razak Baginda acknowledged that he had carried on a seven-month romance with Altantuya Shaariibuu across the globe – in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, France and Malaysia, and that he had given the woman US$10,000 on three separate occasions before the romance turned ugly and he sought to end it. The affidavit also directly implicated Azilah, the chief of Najib’s commando unit, who allegedly told Abdul Razak that he had killed numerous people and that he could “finish off the girl for him.” Azilah’s lawyer denies the officer had ever made that statement. Shaariibuu, who has been variously described as a part-time model and translator, was murdered between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20, according to police. When found, she had been shot twice and torn apart with hand grenades available only to Malaysia’s security forces. After two weeks in the jungle near Subang Dam, the body had been reduced to bone fragments. Abdul Razak is accused of ordering the slaying. Subsequent reports said that Shaarriibuu had had a child by Abdul Razak and that she had shown up in Kuala Lumpur, demanding that the political analyst accept his responsibility as the father. After he refused to see her for several days, he allegedly agreed to meet her at his home, where she was shoved into a car by two men and a third member of the force – a 22-year-old woman lance corporal – was also arrested. She was never named in news stories by Malaysia’s government-friendly press and was released a week later without being charged. There is widespread speculation in Malaysia that she is the aide-de-camp and bodyguard to Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor. However, the involvement of the elite police, who answer only to Najib, and the fact that Abdul Razak Baginda is one of his closest friends, has raised questions about whether the deputy prime minister had ordered the bodyguards to do something about Shaariibuu. In his affidavit, Abdul Razak Baginda acknowledged that he had called contacts inside Najib’s office and asked for help. It was at this point, Abdul Razak said,that Azilah offered his assistance. The affidavit doesn’t say he ever spoke to Najib. But later that night, Azilah called Abdul Razak and told him, "tonight encik (sir), you can sleep well," the affidavit said. In any case, the affair has escalated into a full-blown political scandal, with former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, now an opposition leader, crisscrossing the country demanding answers to what happened. He made allegations of Najib’s involvement a central issue in a recent by-election in a Perak district, but the United Malays National Association candidate survived. Opposition leaders have charged that the election was rife with voter irregularities. “In my personal experience,” Anwar last year told a press conference at his home, “the (elite police) are there to protect the deputy prime minister and they work under our instructions. He (Najib) should at least be asked how is it a person assigned to you, to protect you and work under your instructions, can (allegedly) commit such a heinous crime. "It is vital that whilst those who pulled the trigger are brought to justice, all those who are responsible for directing the killing must be made known," he said in a statement read out at a news conference at his house. “In fact, such persons bear greater responsibility for the crime." It hasn’t helped that the case, first scheduled for March 2008, was accelerated over hundreds of others and moved to tomorrow’s trial date. Also, Abdul Razak Baginda was briefly freed on bail, almost unheard of in a capital murder case, before public outrage resulted in his being sent back to jail. The case has also been passed off to a different judge than the original, raising questions among critics. It has been complicated by the arrival of Shaaribuu Setev, the dead woman’s father, the director of the National University of Mongolia’s Information and Educational Center, who last month criticized Najib Tun Razak for abstaining from all responsibility for the murder. "I take note that Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak has denied...that he was in any manner related to my murdered daughter Altantuya," Shariibuu said in a statement. "But I would like to remind dear Mr Najib and also the Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that the crime was committed by your security officers,” he said. Najib has repeatedly denied any involvement in the case. Although Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has indicated his faith in his deputy, political analysts in Kuala lumpur say it has damaged his political career. It remains to be seen whether the trial will contribute to that damage, or will exonerate him |
| Are Najib’s days numbered?
They have a saying in Malaysia; money controls all, or MCA for short. I wonder if that is why MCA is called a towkay’s party. Certainly MCA is all about big business. Whatever it may be though, MCA is just a running dog to Umno, the big brother in the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional. Barisan Nasional has this unwritten rule; the Chinese control the money while the Malays control the politics of the country. Nevertheless, once you are rich, then you would like a bit of political power and vice versa; once you have political power you would like to become rich. And that is one of the many reasons I am not in politics; the temptation to get rich is just too strong and in politics you have access to power and can easily succumb to temptation. Now, I can only dream about getting rich, but I have absolutely no power to become so. The second reason I shun politics is because as a politician you cannot say what you mean and cannot mean what you say. You have to play the role of hypocrite and I would rather be free to speak with no holds barred and without fear or favour. The third reason of course is that all roads to Putrajaya are through Umno. So, to walk through the corridors of power, one must first walk through the halls of Umno, and that does not appeal to me at all. While the Umno politicians may not have the kind of money that the Chinese have, this does not mean that they do not have access to money. Sure, the Chinese make money the ‘old fashioned way’, through hard work and by doing business, but the Umno politicians can instead make money through using, or more aptly, abusing the power and authority that they have at their disposal. When you walk through the corridors of power it is so easy to utilise the nation’s coffers as if it was own private piggy bank. And they certainly do this to the hilt. In September last year, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi spent RM600 million of the country’s money to dish out to the 191 Umno division heads. Each division received RM3 million which in turn was distributed to a few selected division committee members whose support they needed. The expenditure was slotted under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (RMK9) and the fact that neither Parliament nor the Cabinet approved the spending appeared to be of no concern to all and sundry. You would have imagined that Malaysians would have become outraged at this blatant abuse of power, but quite surprisingly everyone took it in their stride. Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak realises that this does not augur well for him. Whosoever controls the 191 Umno division heads ultimately controls the country. It is the 191 Umno division heads who decide who gets to become the party President and Deputy President. And it is customary that the Umno President and Deputy President become the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively though there is no law that says this must be so. An anti-Najib movement or Gerakan Anti-Najib (GAN) was launched last year to hammer the final nails into Najib’s coffin. Najib at first pooh-poohed the whole thing and passed it off as mere talk to create a rift between him and his boss. And his ‘boss’ as far as he was concerned means the Prime Minister. But, sadly, the Prime Minister does not regard himself as Najib’s boss. Najib’s boss, as far as Abdullah Badawi is concerned, is Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. It was Mahathir who insisted that Najib be appointed the number two. If left to Abdullah Badawi it would have been Muhyiddin Yassin instead of Najib who would today be the Deputy Prime Minister. Najib is finally sitting up and taking note of the move to remove him. It has finally dawned on him that he has lost the support of his benefactor, Mahathir. As what Mahathir said, it is very difficult for Najib to isolate and insulate himself from the Mongolian girl murder fiasco. Whether he is really involved or not is another matter. It is what the public perceive is what counts. Maybe the Attorney-General did make his most unusual and uncalled for public announcement even before the trial had commenced that only three people and no others are involved in the murder. The fact that he even needed to make such an announcement speaks volumes for what is being said behind the scenes. Why the need to clarify that no one else was involved? This clarification only makes the talk that others are involved spread stronger and further. It is not what the Attorney-General said that matters. It is not even what the trial is going to drag up that matter. Politics is about perception and it is what people perceive that matters. And people perceive that Najib and/or his wife are somehow involved in the murder. This is certainly grossly unfair, but politics is not about fairness. It is about perception and perception can most times be very unfair. Najib at first thought that all he needed to do was to sit pretty and show support to the Prime Minister and that would be a safe enough stance. In the Mahathir-Abdullah skirmish, Najib decided to throw his support behind the Prime Minister thinking that this would be a strong message as to where his loyalty lies. But the gesture was not taken at face value. While he did not succeed in convincing Abdullah Badawi of his loyalty, at the same he also lost the support of Mahathir who now can see clearly that his second biggest mistake was in forcing Abdullah’s hand in taking Najib as the number two. One-time Umno Treasurer and Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin met the Prime Minister recently at the behest of the latter. What Abdullah Badawi told Daim could only be interpreted as the beginning of the end for Najib. Daim, being the direct-speaking man that he is, bluntly asked Abdullah Badawi why he brought forward Razak Baginda’s trial a full year. Abdullah Badawi replied that it was not him but someone in his office who was behind it. ‘Someone in his office’ can only mean one person, Khairy Jamaluddin, his son-in-law. Abdullah Badawi made it very clear to Daim that he is more comfortable with Muhyiddin than Najib. He can work better with Muhyiddin, said Abdullah Badawi. Muhyiddin’s house, which used to be deserted, is today packed with Umno people who already detect that this is the man who is going to replace Najib as the Deputy Prime Minister and they want it known that they are amongst the first to rally behind him even before he gets the job. Such is the Umno culture where only the winners are important and losers are to be shunned like the plague. The Razak Baginda murder trial will not augur well for Najib. Evidence that Najib issued a letter asking the Immigration Department to issue the murdered girl a visa is in the possession of those who want to send Najib into early retirement. Evidence that Najib, Razak and the murdered girl made an overseas trip together is also in these same hands. This evidence can of course be quashed if Najib makes a voluntary exit. Then again, if he resists, this evidence can be adduced in court and Najib may risk more than just his job as Deputy Prime Minister. One thing that would be most difficult to explain is the meeting the Chief Inspector and Razak Baginda, now both facing murder charges, had in Najib’s office where the former admitted he had killed six people before this. In spite of this confession he was still engaged to assist Razak Baginda in solving his problem with the Mongolian girl. This, plus the overseas trip they made together and Najib’s letter to the Immigration Department point to a conspiracy at the highest level and though it may not be enough to indict Najib for murder would certainly be enough to convince the country he should no longer remain as Deputy Prime Minister. If Abdullah Badawi was to remove Najib just because he prefers Muhyiddin, this would trigger a serious crisis in Umno. But to remove Najib based on this evidence, Abdullah Badawi would be seen as doing the right thing. Najib has to now make his move. He no longer has any choice in the matter. He thought earlier he did not need to do anything other than pretend to be behind the Prime Minister. The change of judge and date of the Razak Baginda murder trial is most unsettling and demonstrates that there is more than meets the eye. This is not a mere court administration issue. There are powerful hands at play behind the scenes setting Najib up for a fall. If Najib’s name pops up during the trial or he or his wife are subpoenaed to testify in the trial that would have adverse repercussions on him and threaten his position. All they need to do is to launch a ‘2 September 1998’ on Najib and he would become history like what happened to Anwar Ibrahim almost a decade before this. To ensure that his defences are strengthened, Najib is now bringing scores of Umno division heads for overseas trips, at the cost of the taxpayers of course. He cannot pay off these division heads personally from his pocket though he certainly can afford to do so or else he would be cited for money politics and could be suspended or sacked from the party. So he is taking them on these overseas trips as members of his entourage at government expense. Mahathir does not think Najib will make it. You can see, of late, Mahathir has slowed down his attacks on Abdullah Badawi, supposedly because he is not well and the doctors have asked him to take it easy lest he push his heart too far. It is not his heart that is slowing him down. It is the realisation that it is not Abdullah Badawi who will soon be leaving the scene but most likely Najib. But Najib is not taking all this lying down. He will fight tooth and nail to hold on to his position. Well, he can try. Anwar Ibrahim tried as well. The reality of Malaysian politics is what the Prime Minister wants the Prime Minister gets. Raja Petra Kamarudin - MalaysiaToday 13 March 2007 |
| SHAH ALAM, June 28, 2007 (Bernama) -- The murder trial of Altantuya Shaariibuu Thursday heard about a note left by the Mongolian beauty before she died, relating her ordeal of being harassed and alleged murder threats by political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.
Prosecution's sixth witness Burmaa Oyunchimeg told the High Court here that she found the note, handwritten by Altantuya, while she was packing her cousin's belongings at Hotel Malaya between 9pm and 10pm on Sept 20 last year. Testifying during examination-in-chief by DPP Manoj Kurup, Burmaa, 26, a beauty salon operator, said she found the note, written in English on both sides of a Hotel Malaya's letterhead in the front compartment of a white Guess bag belonging to Altantuya. She told the court that her cousin wrote in the note that Abdul Razak was trying to kill her. Burmaa read out the contents of the note in court: "Dear all Malaysian government or police, or Embassy of Mongolia, or newspapers. My name is Shaariibuu Altantuya. I came to Malaysia to see boyfriend Mr Razak Abdullah Baginda. He (is) married and lives with daughter Roweena and wife and parents in Damansara Height, Jalan Setia Jaya 22. His office (is) in Jalan Ampang. Yes, I have been visiting his house and office because I needed to see him. Yes, I asked from him money but I have reasons. "I am a nice person, I can't hurt someone but Mr A. Razak Baginda is a powerful person. He has money. He has connections in (with) police, in government. He (is) trying to scare me, trying to kill me. "He send his two Indian men to follow me, one of them Suraj (K. Suras) Kumar, he (has) been coming to my hotel room every morning around 5am and knocking (on the) door, trying to scare me. "They (have) been following me for four to five days. Even to my hotel, I'm staying, workers (also) know. That time I (was) really scared, I have some problems now. "Mr Razak Baginda promised to help me when I was (in) Mongolia. That (is) why I came to see him and for help. But he (is) trying to kill me and that Indians told me they have connections with police, so they will put (me) to jail. "Yes, maybe I did mistake to bother him, to blackmail him but if he didn't promise to me, I would never come from far away to Malaysia. The only reason I am here is I'm asking help from Mr Razak." "I get P.I., private investigator Mr Poh. But today, he told me that Indians would kill and put (me) down from window. And before I write (this) letter, I suicide myself because I have no choice, he told that they have my letters so they kill (me) and say she suicide." Burmaa told the court that she later handed the note to Altantuya's father Setev Shaariibuu. Manoj tendered the note as an exhibit in the high-profile trial which entered the ninth day today. Before adjourning for lunch, Manoj told the court that he would be tendering four more notes written on Hotel Malaya letterheads when the trial resumes this afternoon. In the dock is Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 30, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 35, from the police special action unit, charged with murdering Altantuya at lots between 12843 and 16735 in Mukim Bukit Raja here between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year. Abdul Razak, 46, is accused of abetting the two policemen in the murder. The three face the death sentence if convicted. |
| Official Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia
Brutal murder of a Mongolian woman in Malaysia In October 2006 Ms. Sh.Altantuya, a 28-year-old single mother of two small children, who had worked as a multilingual interpreter and translator for a Malaysian company, went on a business trip to Malaysia as she informed her parents. On October 19, 2006 at the residence of Mr. Baginda with whom she had a business association, she was captured by police and security officers. Since that time, she went missing. Malaysian police established that Altantuya was murdered on the same day in a jungle clearing outside of Kuala Lumpur, then exploded with explosives fastened to her body. The Government of Mongolia, in accordance with its objective to protect the legitimate rights of its citizens abroad, has been working with the Malaysian government from the day of Ms. Sh.Altantuya's missing in Malaysia. On the 9th of November 2006 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a verbal note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia expressing its deepest concern over the brutal murder of the Mongolian citizen, demanding extensive investigation and securing fair legal procedures with regards the offenders. On the 4th of December 2006 the Mongolia-Malaysia parliamentary group of the State Great Khural /Parliament/ of Mongolia made an appeal to the Members of the Parliament of Malaysia to observe due process of law in the police investigation and independent prosecution free from political pressure since the crime has allegedly involved influential political persons. On the 8th of December 2006 the Prime Minister of Mongolia sent to the Prime Minister of Malaysia a letter expressing his honest belief in conducting intensive investigation in order to prosecute and punish alleged criminals and accomplices in the murder as well as granting independent fair court procedure. On the 12th of December 2006 the Parliament's Subcommittee on Human rights held a special session on this case. The Deputy Director of the Consular Department of the MFA of Mongolia attended the court mention from the 13th to 18th of December 2006 and the Embassy of Mongolia in Bangkok participated in the court mention from the 4th to 6th of April 2007 in Malaysia. They met several officials from the Malaysian Parliament, Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Police, Immigration Service and Ministry of Internal Affairs of Malaysia, expressing great concern of the Mongolian government. Moreover the National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia addressed a letter to the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia requesting "to make contribution to uncover this terrorizing case and bring proceedings against "bounty hunters" and guilty persons to justice". Representative from the Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia are expected to monitor the Court session in Malaysia to be held in June 2007. Mongolian public, world community, and international and regional media pay particular attention onto episode of judgment of this case. The Mongolian Government continues to take all necessary measures in accordance with international law to protect the legitimate interest and human rights of its nationals. We do hope the court procedures will be fair and free from political influence. |
| Letter of 1000 Mongolian mothers to the people of Malaysia
The letter originally published on Susan Loone's blog. It has been half of a year since the life and happiness of an ordinary Mongolian girl who was only in her mid twenties and who was pursuing her life just like any other human beings, deliberately taken away by professional murderers of Malaysia. From the history of humanity we were hearing about deeds of heroism for their motherland and the people, however,w e have never heard such an action where a mother is murdered. It has been some time since we get a fear when we hear the name of your country mentioned in the media. How shameful to the reputation of evergreen malaysia created by patronage of God. This bad reputation may be immortalized by this outrageous action! It is unimaginable that this murder includes all possible criminal actions such as illegal arrest, violence, robbery, killing, conspiracy and corruption. While two little boys who were orphaned and separated from their mother forever, "thanks" to the murderers, are looking for mercy and expecting and waiting their mother to come home, Malaysia did not send "a ringgit". These children perhaps will have to have a meal of suffering and anguish for the duration of their life. It is time for malaysian people to know that it is prohibited in your country to mention this case in public and anyone who even whispered about it receives firm warnings. It is time for you to realize what kind of people are working in your Government and your safety may be in the hands of criminals and murderers. Please understand, we need voices of Malaysians who have common sense and who think. It will be very valuable to the trial to be fair and true, to prove the murderers' guilt. People are powerful when they are united! If these proceedings are conducted to serve interests of anyone individual or a group, the reputation of Malaysia will scandalously collapse in front of humanity again. Everybody should consider that it will serve better if everything is exposed fairly and truly than shielding the truth for sake of the government. No matter how developed a technology would be, however, it is not possible to revive a deceased. We, Mongolians, believe that the fair court of Malaysia and its leaders know without anyone's assistance what remedy must be provided to the surviving two boys who will have to live following their fate. We wish there shall be no more shooting and explosion in the green forest of Malaysia. We wish there shall be no assault on mothers ever again. |
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