Lawyer to seek instructions from Altantuya's family on civil suit

The lawyer representing Altantuya Shaariibuu's family said he would write to the deceased's father to seek further instructions on their civil suit, following a Federal Court ruling yesterday.

Ramkarpal Singh Deo said his firm was in the midst of studying the judgment, and might amend the statement of claim in the RM100 million suit filed by Altantuya's family on June 4, 2007, over her alleged murder.

"Once, we receive the family's response, we will file an application at the Shah Alam High Court Registry on the amendment," Ramkarpal told Bernama Wednesday.

Altantuya's parents, Shaariibuu Setev and Altantsetseg Sanjaa, and her two sons, Mungunshagai Bayarjargal and Altanshagai Munkhtulga, aged nine and four, had named C/Insp Azilah Hadri, Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda and the government as defendants in the suit.

On Tuesday, the Federal Court set aside Azilah and Sirul Azhar's acquittal and sentenced them to death by hanging for the murder of Altantuya after granting the prosecution's appeal against the duo's acquittal.

The civil suit was postponed pending the outcome of the murder trial. Counsel said he would also be writing to the court to ask for an early date for case management in order for all parties to file their respective documents.

"Since criminal matters are now over, we are hoping the suit could be disposed by end of this year," he said.

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

They alleged that Altantuya was shot dead and her body blown up with C-4 explosives by Azilah and Sirul Azhar who were policemen in the Special Unit Force, and her remains were subsequently found in a forest area in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam on Nov 7, 2006.

They claimed that Abdul Razak, a political analyst, abetted the two policemen to murder Altantuya.

They claimed that Azilah and Sirul Azhar had acted unconstitutionally and abused the trust placed in them as officers of the Royal Malaysian Police and servants of the Malaysian government.

The family claimed that as a result of the acts of Azilah, Sirul Azhar and Abdul Razak, they had suffered loss and damage, particularly Altantuya's two sons, who had lost the love of their mother and sole breadwinner.

Shaariibuu, a professor of psychology, and Altantsetseg, who reside in Bayangol District, 19 horoo, Block 56, Apartment 28, Ulanbaatar, Mongolia, said their daughter was raised in St Petersburg, Russia, and educated in Beijing, China.