Cop who drove away woman named Altantuya identified

SHAH ALAM: Private investigator P. Balasubramaniam has identified Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri as the policeman who drove a Mongolian woman named Altantuya away from Abdul Razak Baginda's house.
Balasubramaniam, who was hired by the political analyst to keep the woman at bay, on Wednesday positively identified the police chief inspector, the first accused, Wednesday at the High Court here on Day 3 of the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial.
The 47-year-old ex-cop had testified Tuesday that a policeman took Altantuya away from Abdul Razak's house in Damansara inside a red Proton Wira on the evening of Oct 19, last year.
A man and a woman was with the policeman, the private investigator had testified.
On the trial's third day on Wednesday, Balasubramaniam told the court that he had identified Azilah as that policeman during an identification parade at the Kuala Lumpur district police headquarters on Nov 1 last year.
However, he said he could not recognise the two individuals who came with the policeman that night, saying he only saw them swap seats when Altantuya went in the Proton Wira's backseat.
The murder trial will finish earlier Wednesday at 4pm after two lawyers requested for it.
Normally court adjourns daily at about 5pm.
Wong Kian Kheong, counsel for Abdul Razak Baginda, asked for the trial to be adjourned earlier saying he had an important meeting to attend.
He did not elaborate.
Hazman Ahmad, counsel Azilah, also requested for an early adjournment saying his wife who had given birth to a pair of stillborn twins last Wednesday was still in a state of trauma.
Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin allowed their requests.