KUALA LUMPUR: Former police officer Sirul Azhar Umar, who was convicted of the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibu in 2006, says he was made a scapegoat and that it is dangerous for him to return to Malaysia.
In an exclusive interview with Al-Jazeera English's 101 East, which was aired this morning, Sirul Azhar also apologised to Altantuya's family and requested forgiveness.
Halfway through the interview, Sirul Azhar had an emotional breakdown. "I'm a circumstantial victim. I'm a scapegoat, that's why I'm telling the truth. They're using me as a scapegoat.
He expressed gratefulness for being released from detention.
"I'm thankful to God and thankful to the government of Australia for releasing me.
"I really, really.. I didn't expect it. Now I'm here, I hope the Australian community accepts me for who I am, I'm not a bad person," he told Aljazeera English journalist Mary Ann Jolley.
It is his first interview since being released two weeks ago from the Villawood Immigration Detention Center in Sydney,
During the interview, Sirul Azhar claimed he was not responsible for Altantuya's murder despite being found guilty by the Malaysian court.
He alleged that he was trapped in a political game, admitting to receiving finances while in Australia from an undisclosed source, purportedly to "silence him'.
"I joined the police when I was 19 years old, teaching me tough discipline about obedience to superior, which means yes, sir, yes, sir, yes, sir, and never say no," he said.
Sirul Azhar expressed deep-seated unfairness in his situation.
He said former political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, being affluent, could afford substantial payments and evade consequences, while people like himself, unable to afford such means, were left to languish in prison.
"Some people call it a kangaroo court. If you have more money, you pay, you (get) released.
"But I had no money at that time. How can I pay?," Sirul Azhar added in frustration.
The former police officer also refused to acknowledge any evidence related to the case, including the presence of slippers in his car or the jewellery found in his jacket.
Sirul Azhar said that the evidence was planted to falsely incriminate him of the murder.
When asked by the Al-Jazeera journalist whether Najib interfered in the court's decision to overturn the not guilty decision, Sirul Azhar said "I'm just going to say it might be… because I already know about Malaysia.
"I've been before with two, three prime ministers. And then until now, look. Who's helping me here? (It's the) Government of Australia, not Malaysia. I'm really, really upset about this," he said.
He also maintained that the video where he cleared the former Prime Minister of any involvement in Altantuya's murder was produced following his solicitor's instruction, not of his own volition.
"True," he conceded, confirming that his solicitor directed him to produce the video and provided guidance on its content.
He said that his solicitor offered him approximately one million Malaysian ringgit in exchange for creating a video statement favouring Najib Razak.
Sirul Azhar admitted that he actually has no knowledge about the source of the money or the individual who paid his lawyer but believed it might be from a very important person.
"I never pay anything for solicitors in Malaysia and Australia as well.
"Which means they are merely political cases and (are) using me, really, really using me. I'm still silent, silent, never say nothing," added Sirul Azhar.
Simultaneously, he said that he had received payment from individuals who sought to buy his silence.
"Yes, I do, because I have no work, nothing, no choice. So they offer and then give me some money (which) I spend for my son, because I love my son.
"My son is going to grow up here, you know, spend a lot of money, study here, everything. And my daughter as well," he said.
He further explained that even presently, there are individuals attempting to exert control over him.
He suggested that the 'powerful individuals' who provided payment likely wanted him to conceal or safeguard something.
"Until now I have somebody who controls me. Umar, you don't talk, you keep silent.
"(But) This is Australia. Anybody can talk, can't it? So I take a position, I talk the truth.
"Because I want to expose and tell the truth. Now I want a new life in Australia. I don't want to tell lies here,." he said.