KUALA LUMPUR: Police are set to deliberate the potential return of Sirul Azhar Umar, the former policeman sentenced to death for the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, in a Bernama report today, confirmed the release of Sirul Azhar from an Australian immigration detention centre.
He disclosed plans to engage with key stakeholders, including the Attorney-General and the courts, to explore the prospect of repatriation.
"The application for repatriation needs to be referred to the Attorney-General's Chambers because this involves the Malaysian and Australian governments," he was quoted as saying.
He also highlighted that police officers are poised to visit Sirul Azhar in Australia, given his newfound freedom.
"We have officers there and we can actually see Sirul Azhar because he is free," he added.
The media reported today that Sirul Azhar has been released from the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney, Australia yesterday, after spending nine years in custody since 2015.
His release follows the country's High Court decision on Nov 8, stating that non-citizen detainees unable to be deported cannot be held indefinitely by immigration authorities.
The saga dates back to 2009 when Sirul Azhar and chief inspector Azilah Hadri received death sentences for the 2006 murder of Altantuya.
Despite a temporary reprieve when the Court of Appeal overturned the verdict, the Federal Court later reinstated the sentence.
Fleeing to Australia, Sirul Azhar found himself in the clutches of Australian immigration authorities until the recent High Court decision led to his release.