Altantuya murder: M'sia may bring Sirul's case to Aussie court

Malaysia may bring former Special Action Unit personnel Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar to the Australian court if that country declines to extradite him to Malaysia to face the death sentence.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said only the court had the power to issue the order on whether to extradite Sirul Azhar or not.

He said the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney General would discuss the issue in detail before taking further action.

"Currently, police are still talking to the authorities in Australia to extradite Sirul Azhar," he told a news conference after visiting the Penang police contingent headquarters here Friday.

On Tuesday, Sirul Azhar and chief inspector Azilah Hadri were sentenced to death by the Federal Court for murdering Mongolian part-time model, Altantuya Shaariibuu nine years ago.

Sirul Azhar, 43, however, was not present in court to hear the case as he was believed to be in Australia. Following that, the Federal Court issued a warrant of arrest for him.

The local press Friday quoted a Sydney Morning Herald report that the government of Australia would not consent to Malaysia's request for an extradition order as it involved the death penalty.

Australia is among the countries that do not have provision for the death penalty in their laws.

Asked if the authorities could trace Sirul Azhar's whereabouts, Wan Junaidi said, "Australia is not that large."