Kit Siang wants ‘reprieve’ for Sirul, Azilah death sentences

Altantuya murder case needs thorough, comprehensive, independent (even international) investigation.

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP elder statesman Lim Kit Siang, speaking on behalf of the Opposition and all concerned Malaysians, has called on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to institute a thorough, comprehensive, independent (even international) investigation into Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu’s murder.

Further, he wants Najib to announce a reprieve of the death sentences imposed on fugitive Sirul Azhar Umar and Chief Inspector Azila Hadri for the murder until the outcome of such investigations.

Lim, who is also DAP Parliamentary Leader and Gelang Patah MP, cites the evidence for his two demands viz.

Was Najib’s statement on Thursday on fugitive Sirul’s claim that he acted under orders exculpatory (evidence not admissible in a Trial) or incriminating (make someone appear guilty of a crime)?

That’s what Lim wants to know. “Najib made a most rash and imprudent outburst at the MCA Chinese New Year open house when he said that former police commando Sirul’s claim that he acted under orders to murder Altantuya was ‘utter rubbish’ and ‘total rubbish’.”

The Prime Minister’s outburst, he reiterated, was either exculpatory or incriminating.

Lim conceded that it would be exculpatory if he was asserting that Sirul was talking “utter” or “total rubbish” that he murdered Altantuya in 2006 together with Chief Inspector Azila under orders IF there were no such orders.

The question that immediately arises, according to Lim, is how Najib knows that the two convicted police commandos had not received any such orders from their superior to kill Altantuya and destroy evidence by blowing up her body using C4 explosives?

He can say there was no such “order” from him, but how could he say that there were no such “orders” from other people?

How can he be so sure?

Since he is also implicated in the allegations flying around, both inside the country and worldwide on the murder of Altantuya, isn’t a thorough, comprehensive and independent (even international) investigation into the Altantuya’s murder, the best way to resolve the riddle?

That Sirul and Azilah had murdered Altantuya and blown up her body by using C4 explosive was virtually admitted by Sirul, pointed out Lim, when he as good as made a confession from Australia, saying: “If I die today, I would not find peace. I did what I was told and this is what I get in return.”

Lim may argue the Altantuya murder case further and make submissions.

So Najib’s outburst on Thursday cannot be exculpatory, in destroying beyond a shadow of doubt the theory that Sirul and Azilah had killed Altantuya and destroyed evidence by blowing up her body with C4 explosives “under orders” – especially as this tallied with Sirul’s first police statement dated November 9, 2006, added Lim.

“But Najib’s outburst could be self-incriminating implying that he knew the circumstances leading to the murder of Altantuya by the two police commandos acting ‘under orders’.”

Would Najib agree that it is a gross miscarriage of justice if Sirul and Azila are sent to the gallows while the mastermind of Altantuya’s murder was allowed to get away scot-free?

Is the Prime Minister’s stand dismissing Sirul’s claim that he had acted under order to kill Altantuya the reason why Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar was so obstinate in refusing to re-open investigations in Altantuya’s murder?

It could not be immediately determined whether Lim was resting his case on Altantuya or whether he will be arguing it further and making submissions in the Court of Public Opinion.