Murder trial of Mongolian woman postponed to January 15

KUALA LUMPUR: In Malaysia, the murder trial of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaarribuu has been postponed to January 15 after defence lawyers requested for more time to interview witnesses.

Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Lance Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar were in court on Monday to enter their defence in the murder trial of the Mongolian woman.

Their lawyers asked for the trial to be postponed in light of a series of statutory declarations that had surfaced. Two were from prosecution star witness – Private Investigator P Balasubramaniam - and one from blogger, Raja Petra Kamuruddin.

Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, defence counsel, said: "Mr Raja Petra and Mr Balasubramaniam have put in an SD. A person who's gone so far as to put in an SD must have a basis."

Mr Bala had alleged in his sworn statement that well-known analyst Abdul Razak Baginda had told him that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak knew the victim and had had an affair with her. But Mr Bala retracted the statement hours later.

Mr Raja Petra, on the other hand, claimed on oath that he has proof linking Altantuya's murder to Mr Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor.

Kamarul Hisham said: "The statutory declaration by Raja Petra obviously implies that he's got sources. Until and unless I interview him, I don't know what these sources are."

Mr Raja Petra, who was freed from ISA detention last Friday, has yet to indicate whether he is willing to testify in court.

While the defence insists on cross-examining Mr Bala again, the private investigator's whereabouts is currently unknown.

Meanwhile, Mr Abdul Razak's acquittal has raised questions, such as who ordered the killing and the motive behind the murder.

By Channel NewsAsia's Malaysia Bureau Chief Melissa Goh
Source: channelnewsasia.com