KUALA LUMPUR: The explosive allegations about former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s direct involvement in Altantuya Shaariibuu’s murder have caused a stir among parties seeking answers to the brutal murder, which took place 13 years ago.
Azilah Hadri, who is on death row at Kajang Prison, made fresh claims in a lengthy and explicit admission, implicating Najib and his close associate, Abdul Razak Baginda.
Razak’s lawyer, Manjeet Singh Dhillon, had urged Attorney-General Tommy Thomas to take immediate steps and institute contempt proceedings against everyone coming out with these statements and prejudicing an ongoing trial.
“The matter concerns and impacts an ongoing Shah Alam High Court civil suit and is, under the circumstances, sub judice.
“We have yet to see any review application and will comment further when we have it and know precisely what is being sought and why,” he said in a statement.
Najib immediately declared his innocence. His daughter, Nooryana Najwa, cried on Instagram, maintaining that her father was not a murderer.
“My father is not a murderer. I just spent the last two hours listening to (former United States) president Barack Obama speak about the need for political leaders to realise that you are in this position to do your job and work for the people.
“For a brief moment, I was rejuvenated. Then, I came home to see such slanderous claims promulgated to mask certain parties’ incompetencies,” she posted yesterday.
The lawyer for Altantuya’s family, Ramkarpal Singh, had called for an in-depth probe into the allegations.
Several parties also questioned the veracity of the statutory declaration (SD), including Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Huzir Mohamed, who wanted to take a closer look at it.
Ramkarpal said if those allegations proved to be true, there must be prosecution of those involved despite Azilah and Sirul Azhar having been convicted by the Federal Court for the murder.
He said this was because there was no statute of limitations in criminal cases and one could be prosecuted for an offence despite a long time lapse, provided there is evidence to support the prosecution.
“The family of Altantuya has, for years, demanded a thorough investigation into the question of who ordered the 2006 murder, particularly when both Azilah and Sirul had no possible motives to do so.
“The revelations by Azilah in his SD are indeed shocking and the family of Altantuya will apply to the Federal Court to hold a watching brief in the said Federal Court review application.
“We will also take steps to amend the civil suit of the family, which is ongoing at the Shah Alam High Court, to include the allegations contained in the said SD and the findings of the police investigation as a result.”
Ramkarpal said there was no need to wait for a police report on the matter as the police could act on the SD.
“A fresh statement must be taken from Azilah and those he had implicated in his SD, including Najib.
“I urge Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador to do so in light of the seriousness of the allegations.
“The mystery of who ordered the murder of Altantuya is one that must be resolved and today’s development may be an important step in that direction,” he stressed.
The Bukit Gelugor member of parliament and DAP national legal bureau chairman added Altantuya’s family would not rest until the motive and those behind her murder are revealed and those responsible brought to justice.