IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar says we will never know why “rogue policemen” Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri killed Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibu.
He has also today said that the question of motive was one for the judiciary and not the police to decide.
This is pathetic.
First, let us get one thing clear. Judges decide cases on the basis and strength of evidence put before them during a trial. This is most basic.
It is the duty of the police to secure the evidence and then through the public prosecutor, place it before a court. It is then for the prosecution to argue motive and for the courts to decide if or not the prosecution has proven motive beyond a reasonable doubt.
So this argument that it was for the courts to decide motive and not the police is misplaced. There must first be evidence. It is only then that a court can decide.
Second, it is critical to note that the IGP himself is reported to have said that we will never know why these police officers killed Altantuya.
That demonstrates quite clearly a lack of knowledge or evidence on part of the police as to motive. Having said that, how does the IGP expect a court to make findings as to whom directed the killing and why?
Third, it is common practice for the police to conduct investigations which go beyond what is eventually required and adduced in court to secure a conviction. This would be particularly so in cases where the suspects are police officers themselves and weapons were used in the commission of the crime.
The IGP must come clean on these matters and he must do so now. Was any separate investigation done into motive in this case? What did it reveal and was this information ever brought forward to the Public Prosecutor?
This case is not just a matter of national but also international importance. It involves a Mongolian and one of her convicted killers has now fled to Australia.
The international world just like us here in Malaysia also want to know why Altantuya was killed.
Why would two policemen, who did not know her at all want to kill her?
This will put Malaysia again in the spotlight for the wrong reasons and it doesn’t help that our top police officer has come out in the open to say even he doesn’t have a clue, despite the fact that it was two of his men who committed the crime.
As Member of Parliament, I hold the view that the Prime Minister must now act to clear the air.
Any rational Prime Minister cannot hold his head high in circumstances like these. He himself should demand answers and want to know what happened. He is duty bound to direct a full and open probe into who directed the death of Altantuya Shaaribuu and why.
This is a very serious matter and as I said, one of public and international importance.
The Federal Court in its judgment has not, to my mind answered these questions.
That leaves that part of the puzzle wide open. If these matters are not fully resolved, Malaysia will remain subject to ridicule from the international world over this and Malaysians will always remain skeptical over the manner in which the case was dealt with.
Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang has proposed the setting up of a bipartisan parliamentary committee to inquire into unresolved public interest questions in the case of Altantuya Shaaribuu. This is certainly a step in the right direction.
The Prime Minister must respond to this call. I urge him to support it in full to reflect transparency on part of the Malaysian government over the matter, forthwith.