The “offer” by Sirul Azhar Umar to reveal what transpired in the case of Altantuya Shaariibuu provided he is given a full pardon and allowed back into Malaysia a free man as reported by Malaysiakini in its report titled “Sirul willing to assist in Altantuya case – with a full pardon” on 19.5.2018 is downright insulting to her memory and ought not to be entertained at all.
There is absolutely no hint of remorse from Sirul in his said interview particularly when the murder was committed in such a heinous manner. He also says that he has killed others under instructions which is contrary to his claim that the murder of Altantuya was his only crime.
Sirul fled the country to Australia just before the Federal Court convicted him and Azilah Hadri of Altantuya’s murder in 2015. Despite assuring the nation that he would be extradited, the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government has done absolutely nothing to do so and he remains merely under detention by the immigration authorities there.
The only reason Australia is unlikely to extradite Sirul in the event an application to do so is made is because he faces the death penalty upon his return to Malaysia which Australia is against. If the said death penalty is commuted to life imprisonment, the Australian government will most certainly deport him to Malaysia to serve his sentence here.
It is also unlikely that Sirul has any personal knowledge of what transpired on the night of the murder or who ordered the same as it is clear from the evidence during the trial that Azilah played a bigger role. Furthermore, the possibility that one DSP Musa Safri may have knowledge of what happened cannot be excluded as he was mentioned throughout the trial but was curiously not called by the prosecution. Razak Baginda may also be a potential witness. In the circumstances, it is likely that Sirul’s knowledge, if any, is merely hearsay and based only on what he was told by Azilah.
Those responsible for ordering the murder must be brought to justice regardless of their rank or position if evidence of their involvement comes to light.
I have suggested that the investigations in relation to who ordered Altantuya’s murder be reopened or that a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) be held to ascertain such motive.
Having regard to the peculiar circumstances of this case, I am of the view that Sirul’s sentence ought to be commuted to life imprisonment in which case he will be deported to Malaysia from Australia and sent to Kajang prison to serve his sentence. Once he is back on home soil, he will be compelled to cooperate in the said investigations or RCI and if necessary, appear as a witness against those who ordered Altantuya’s murder.
The fact remains that Sirul and Azilah murdered Altantuya in the most grotesque of circumstances. As such, Sirul is certainly in no position to bargain his way out of paying for such a tragedy and he must be deported to Malaysia in the manner suggested above to once and for all put a close to the mystery of who ordered the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.