'Najib not involved in Altantuya murder' - Sirul

Former police Special Action Unit (UTK) member Sirul Azhar Umar has sworn that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was not involved in the murder of Mongolian model, Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.

In an online video released Saturday, Sirul said he understood the intentions of ‘certain quarters with intrerest to topple a certain someone.’

"I was never brought up or taught to make false accusations. It is a big sin if I falsely accuse somebody. I promise in the name of God, that Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is not involved in at all and has no links to the case," said Sirul.

In the brief footage, he did not specifically mention which particular 'case' Najib was not involved in. The 55-second long clip, purportedly his third to date, marked the first time Sirul mentioned someone's name.

The video was uploaded following a statement by his counsel, Datuk Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin and Hasnal Rezua Merican on January 1.

In the previous videos, Sirul spoke about Altantuya.

In his first video, he said that parties with vested interests were attempting to sabotage somebody, but did not mention any names.

In the second video Sirul revealed that ‘the woman’ -- believed to be Altantuya -- was not pregnant. Sirul and his former Special Unit partner, Azilah Hadri were convicted of the murder of Altantuya when their earlier acquittal was overturned by the Federal Court.

On Jan 20, 2015, Sirul was arrested by the Australian immigration after Interpol issued a red notice for an immigration offence and is being held at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney. Azilah is now on death row.