Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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(Nov 3): Australian prison authorities are ramping up security for Sirul Azhar Umar amid fears that the former commando is being pressured to return to Malaysia to face the death penalty for his role in the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, an Australian daily reports.

The Australian said today additional security measures had been put in place after a delegation comprising Sirul’s mother, sister and at least one opposition lawmaker visited him in March.

Sirul, who is being held at the Villawood detention centre in Australia, is considered a high-risk detainee because of his involvement in the murder of Altantuya, blown up by C4 explosives or killed first and later destroyed on October 18, 2006, in the outskirts of Shah Alam, near the capital city Kuala Lumpur.

Investigations revealed that Altantuya had been involved in an affair with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s political adviser Abdul Razak Baginda.

Razak Baginda was charged with abetting in her murder but acquitted later.

The Australian reported high concern among Australian Border Force officials who were said to have found out about the March visit only after the fact.

The daily added that the visit had been approved by Serco, the contractors running Australia’s detention centres, and that Villawood was at the time under the control of the Immigration Department.

“There are fears that Sirul or members of his family could be subject to intimidation, threats or even physical harm if access to him is not controlled,” the report said.

On June 14, Al-Jazeera journalist Mary Ann Jolley was deported over a 30-minute investigative piece on the Altantuya murder.

In the documentary, Jolley had asked whether Sirul and Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri who were both convicted of murder had been the “fall guys” for others.

Putrajaya continues to deny any links between the Mongolian woman and Najib, saying the prime minister “did not know, has never met, has never had any communication with and has no link whatsoever with the deceased”.

The government has also dismissed allegations of corruption and kickbacks surrounding the murder as a smear campaign by political opponents. – The Malaysian Insider

 

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