In a new twist to the sensational Altantuya Shaariibuu case, second accused corporal Sirul Azhar Umar has failed to appear at the Federal Court, which today found him guilty of murdering the Mongolian woman.
Sirul, 43, a member of the elite Special Action Unit (UTK), is believed to have fled overseas as even his solicitor, Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, could not contact him.
However, checks with the Immigration Department official using Sirul's police identity card revealed that his passport was last used in 2006 - the year Altantuya was murdered and when he was active accompanying top government leaders on overseas trips as part of their security detail.
It remains uncertain whether Sirul (right) used his civilian MyKad to apply for a new passport or slipped out of the country without the knowledge of the Immigration Department.
He had repeatedly claimedsince his defence was called at the Shah Alam High Court that he was being made a ‘kambing hitam’ (scapegoat) in order "to protect their plans". He did not however name the individuals involved in the alleged conspiracy.
A five-member Federal Court panel has delivered a guilty verdict for both Sirul and co-accused Azilah Hadri, where both have been sentenced with the death penalty.
While Azilah appeared in court and was immediately sent to prison to await the gallows, Sirul never showed up.
None of Sirul's family members, including his son, was in court. He is a divorcee.
The court issued a warrant of arrest for Sirul, following an oral application made by Deputy Solicitor-General I Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah, which Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria, who led the five member bench, agreed with.
Last contact a week after prosecution appeal
One of Sirul’s lawyers, Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, when met after the verdict was delivered said he does not know the whereabouts of his client.
Reluctant to say whether Sirul has “disappeared”, Kamarul Hisham (left) merely said he does not know.
Asked the possibility of Sirul being having fled overseas, as has been claimed, the lawyer said he truly does not know.
“Our last contact with him was a week after the hearing of the prosecution's appeal,” he said.
The lawyer for Azilah, Hazman Ahmad, told Malaysiakini on the sidelines, before the proceeding began, that he saw Sirul work as a bodyguard for someone in the country.
Hazman said he saw Sirul with his friends and both of them spoke a little.
Both Azilah and Sirul's face have not been seen throughout the eight years of their trial and appeal. Being former Special Action Force personnel, they were allowed to have their faces covered while being led to court.
Upon acquittal, they exited through a side entrance to the court complex, without photographers being able to take their pictures.
However, in today's proceeding Azilah entered through a side-entrance at the Federal Court. He wore a black coat, white long-sleeve shirt and blue tie and was seated at the public gallery before his case was called.
Source :http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/286152
Sirul, 43, a member of the elite Special Action Unit (UTK), is believed to have fled overseas as even his solicitor, Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, could not contact him.
However, checks with the Immigration Department official using Sirul's police identity card revealed that his passport was last used in 2006 - the year Altantuya was murdered and when he was active accompanying top government leaders on overseas trips as part of their security detail.
It remains uncertain whether Sirul (right) used his civilian MyKad to apply for a new passport or slipped out of the country without the knowledge of the Immigration Department.He had repeatedly claimedsince his defence was called at the Shah Alam High Court that he was being made a ‘kambing hitam’ (scapegoat) in order "to protect their plans". He did not however name the individuals involved in the alleged conspiracy.
A five-member Federal Court panel has delivered a guilty verdict for both Sirul and co-accused Azilah Hadri, where both have been sentenced with the death penalty.
While Azilah appeared in court and was immediately sent to prison to await the gallows, Sirul never showed up.
None of Sirul's family members, including his son, was in court. He is a divorcee.
The court issued a warrant of arrest for Sirul, following an oral application made by Deputy Solicitor-General I Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah, which Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria, who led the five member bench, agreed with.
Last contact a week after prosecution appeal
One of Sirul’s lawyers, Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, when met after the verdict was delivered said he does not know the whereabouts of his client.
Reluctant to say whether Sirul has “disappeared”, Kamarul Hisham (left) merely said he does not know.Asked the possibility of Sirul being having fled overseas, as has been claimed, the lawyer said he truly does not know.
“Our last contact with him was a week after the hearing of the prosecution's appeal,” he said.
The lawyer for Azilah, Hazman Ahmad, told Malaysiakini on the sidelines, before the proceeding began, that he saw Sirul work as a bodyguard for someone in the country.
Hazman said he saw Sirul with his friends and both of them spoke a little.
Both Azilah and Sirul's face have not been seen throughout the eight years of their trial and appeal. Being former Special Action Force personnel, they were allowed to have their faces covered while being led to court.
Upon acquittal, they exited through a side entrance to the court complex, without photographers being able to take their pictures.
However, in today's proceeding Azilah entered through a side-entrance at the Federal Court. He wore a black coat, white long-sleeve shirt and blue tie and was seated at the public gallery before his case was called.
Source :http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/286152
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