Altantuya's family appeals against dismissal of application to obtain recorded statements

KUALA LUMPUR: The family of Altantuya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian model who was murdered in Shah Alam in 2006, has filed an appeal against the High Court’s dismissal of their application to obtain the statements recorded from those who were investigated by the police in connection with the case, to be used in their civil suit.

Altantuya's father Shaariibuu Setev, his wife and their two grandsons filed the RM100 million suit against two former policemen, Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar, political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda and the Malaysian government on June 4, 2007.

Counsel for Altantuya's family Sangeet Kaur Deo told Bernama that the appeal was filed on Aug 14.

“The appeal was fixed for case management before Court of Appeal deputy registrar Noridah Adam on Jan 18 via e-review,” she said via Whatsapp when asked about the latest development on the matter.

On July 22, Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, who is the trial judge in the civil case at the Shah Alam High Court, when dismissing the application ruled that the statements had been taken in confidence and for the purpose of the criminal trial.

The judge who has been elevated to the Court of Appeal, also noted that disclosure could be highly prejudicial to any future investigations or pending investigations.

Meanwhile, Sangeet said, the trial has been fixed to resume on Jan 11 till Jan 15, next year.

So far, 10 witnesses for Altantuya’s family have testified in the civil case which began in January 2019.

Dr Shaariibuu and his wife Altantsetseg Sanjaa and their two grandsons, Mungunshagai Bayarjargal and Altanshagai Munkhtulga, filed the RM100 million suit on June 4, 2007, however, Altanshagai Munkhtulga’s name was later removed as a plaintiff as he died in 2017.

In their statement of claim, the family alleged that Altantuya’s death had caused them mental shock and psychological trauma, entitling them to be compensated with exemplary and aggravated damages.

Abdul Razak was charged with conspiring with Azilah and Sirul Azhar to kill Altantuya, 28, in 2006, but he was acquitted of the charge in October 2008 without having to enter his defence, while Azilah and Sirul Azhar were found guilty in 2009.

On Aug 23, 2013, the Court of Appeal allowed Azilah and Sirul Azhar's appeal and acquitted them of the charge but their acquittal was overturned by the Federal Court on Jan 13, 2015, following the prosecution's appeal.

Sirul later fled to Australia and is currently being held at an immigration detention centre there and on Dec 5 last year, Azilah, who is on death row at Kajang Prison, filed his review application to set aside his conviction and death sentence and order for a retrial.

-- BERNAMA