Altantuya Murder Trial: Plastic Explosives Used to Detonate Altantuya

5 December 2007
Shah Alam

46-year-old DSP Muhammad Koey Abdullah, a former post-blast investigation department head at the police forensic laboratory, continued his witness yesterday in the trial of 28-year-old Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was murdered on 19 October 2006. He said that explosive substances were likely inserted in the victim's mouth or on her face and on her upper limbs and lower abdomen while she was lying face up.

Muhammad Koey worked at the forensic laboratory from 2004 till the end of 2006, after which he pursued a diploma course on investigation science at a local college.

During investigations at the crime scene, he consulted with pathologist Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood on the explosion, indicating that the largest skull piece about the size of a 50 sen coin with hair blown off was found. Thus, he believed that an explosive substance was placed on the hairless part of the head, probably the forehead, face, or mouth.

He also suggested that plastic explosives (PE) in small quantities were used as the main charge in the explosion. If larger quantities were used, he said they would not be able to find skull and bone fragments. Then, he further explained that a booster would be required to detonate PE. In this case, he said a secondary high-powered explosive substance known as RDX was found at the crime scene. RDX can be found in PE types PP01 and PE-N12B1.

The firing of the explosion was determined to be 14.5 metres from where Altantuya was believed to be placed, known as the "seat of explosion", as wire pieces were found there. The electric detonator was also found at the seat of explosion.

The trial continues today.

New Straits Times - Altantuya murder trial: Cop: Explosive probably placed in victim's mouth
<URL:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/2101487/Article/index_html>

MCW - Altantuya Murder Trial: Amidon Identified Azilah and Azhar on CCTV
<URL:http://malaysiacrimewatch.lokety.com/2007/12/altantuya-murder-trial-amidon.html>

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