Monday, June 4, 2007

Altantuya trial postponed, family sues govt and accused



PETALING JAYA: The Shah Alam High Court has postponed the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial to June 18 to allow the new prosecution team time to prepare its case.
In the meantime, her family has filed an RM100mil civil suit against the Government of Malaysia as well as the three defendants in her murder trial which began Monday.
The three include policemen Cif Inspektor Azilah Hadri, 31, and Koperal Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, who are charged with committing the murder in Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year.
The third is political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, 47, who is accused of abetting the two Unit Tindakan Khas (special action force) personnel, allegedly committed his offence at the Bangunan Getah Asli in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18 last year.
The trial has garnered much attention in local and foreign media because of Abdul Razak's policital connections as well as the gruesome manner in which the 28-year-old Altantuya was killed. The Monggolian beauty was apparently blown up with explosives after having been shot dead.
Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin is presiding over the case. The prosecutors are head of the Civil Division in the Attorney-General's Chambers Tun Majid Tun Hamzah and Deputy Public Prosecutor M. Kurup. Veteran lawyer Karpal Singh is holding a watching brief for Altantuya’s family.

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