Deputy Public Prosecutor Opening Statements at Altantuya Trial

19 June 2007
Shah Alam

The High Court trial for the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu started yesterday with the prosecution putting Abdul Razak Baginda and C/Insp Azilah Hadri as the masterminds and the inspector and his subordinate Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar carrying out the deed.

DPP Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah said his team would produce evidence to prove that Abdul Razak had known the Altantuya since 2004, and frequently met her and gave her money. When their relationship ended in August 2005, Abdul Razak continued to give her money until early 2006. Altantuya then hired a private investigator to track down Abdul Razak and came to Malaysia several times to demand money from him.

When Altantuya arrived in Kuala Lumpur in 8 October 2006, she tried to meet Abdul Razak but was denied. She sent several threatening notes to him and Abdul Razak hired a private investigator to keep her away.

Abdul Razak then met C/Insp Azilah at his office at the Bangunan Lembaga Getah Asli on 18 October 2006 to confide in him. Together, they were alleged to have planned Altantuya’s murder. Tun Abdul Majid said a note found at C/Insp Azilah's office with Altantuya's name, address, phone number and the name of Abdul Razak's private investigator would serve as evidence that the officers had gone to Hotel Malaya where she was staying.

Altantuya was believed to have gone to Abdul Razak's house on 19 October 2006 and was held up by the private investigator, as instructed by Abdul Razak. The officers then took her away and were the last ones seen with the deceased.

The DPP then put it that Altantuya might have died from "blast-related injuries", which is in contrast to the widely believed cause of being shot dead.

To support their case, the prosecution will make use of a confession made by Kpl Sirul Azhar to his superior, and also on some items belonging to the deceased found in his house. A pair of bloodstainded slippers was also found in his car, which matched the deceased's blood DNA.

The Star Online - DPP: Razak planned it
<URL:http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/6/19/nation/18064870&sec=nation>

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