Najib in Federal Court to intervene in ex-chief inspector’s bid to set aside conviction, death sentence for Altantuya murder

PUTRAJAYA (Dec 8): Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (pictured) is present in the Federal Court here today for the hearing of his application to intervene in former chief inspector Azilah Hadri’s bid to set aside his conviction and death sentence for the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.

Najib, who arrived at the court at 9.10am with his aide today, was seated in the public gallery when Azilah, who was handcuffed, entered the court.

As Najib took his seat, Azilah was seen taking a glance at the ex-premier, who was seated at the bench opposite him.

Najib’s application is being heard before a five-member bench led by Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Azahar Mohamed.

Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah is representing Najib, while J Kuldeep Kumar and Athari Bahardin appeared for Azilah.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar is leading the prosecution in the case.

It was reported that Azilah will oppose Najib's bid to intervene in the former's revision application.

It was also reported that the prosecution in the case will oppose Azilah's revision application.

According to news reports, Altantuya was shot dead and her body blown up with military-grade plastic explosives at a forest in Puncak Alam, Selangor between 10pm on Oct 18 and 1am on Oct 19, 2006.

It was reported that Azilah, ex-police corporal Sirul Azhar Umar and political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda were initially charged for Altantuya's murder.

However, Abdul Razak was acquitted without his defence called in the High Court, while Azilah and Sirul Azhar were convicted.

Azilah and Sirul Azhar appealed to the Court of Appeal where they were unanimously acquitted. However, following the prosecution's appeal to the Federal Court, the apex court in January 2015 upheld the High Court's decision to convict them of the murder and sentenced them to death.

Sirul Azhar left Malaysia for Australia before the January 2015 judgement date and is presently held there.

On Dec 5, 2019, it was reported that Azilah, now on death row at the Kajang Prison in Selangor, had filed an application to review the conviction and death sentence under Rule 137 of the Rules of the Federal Court 1995, with an order for a retrial.

Azilah had affirmed a statutory declaration, claiming the order to kill Altantuya came from Najib.

As a result, Najib on Dec 17, 2019 instructed his lawyers to intervene in Azilah's bid to set aside his conviction and death sentence.

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