Malaysia’s Najib Ordered Killing of Mongolian Model, Says Former Bodyguard

KUALA LUMPUR—A Malaysian police officer on death row for the 2006 slaying of a Mongolian model, has accused former prime minister Najib Razak of ordering him to kill the woman, according to media reports and the policeman’s lawyer.

Azilah Hadri and another police officer, who were serving on Najib’s security detail at the time of the murder, were sentenced to death in 2015 for killing 28-year-old Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Najib, who lost a general election last year and is also facing charges of corruption on a massive scale, has denied knowing the woman. The question of who ordered the killing has never been answered.

In a court filing seeking to set aside his conviction, Azilah said Najib had ordered him to “arrest and destroy” Shaariibuu, who the former premier had allegedly described as a foreign spy, news portal Malaysiakini reported on Monday.

“I asked (Najib) what he meant by arrest and destroy the foreign spy, he responded: “Shoot to kill,” and indicating it with a ‘slit the throat’ gesture,” Azilah said, according to Malaysiakini.

Azilah’s lawyer J. Kuldeep Kumar on Tuesday confirmed the report but declined to comment further.

Malaysia’s Federal Court will hear Azilah’s application on April 20.

Najib denied the allegations and accused the Malaysian government of using Azilah to orchestrate a political attack against him.

“I have been told that this new tale will provide a way for the government to arrest and imprison me without bail, as no bail is allowed for murder cases,” Najib said on his Facebook page.

Shaariibuu was shot dead, and her body was blown up by military-grade explosives in a forest near Kuala Lumpur.

Civil society groups have alleged her murder was linked to her role as an interpreter for Abdul Razak Baginda, a former associate of Najib, in Malaysia’s purchase of two submarines from French shipbuilding giant DCNS in 2002.

Abdul Razak, who said he had had an affair with Shaariibuu, was acquitted of abetting the murder in 2008.

Sangeet Kaur Deo, a lawyer for Shaaribuu’s family, called for a fresh probe into her death in light of Azilah’s latest allegations.

“The question was always who was behind it,” she told reporters.

“That was a question that hopefully will be answered now with the right investigations.”

Azilah’s co-accused, Sirul Azhar Uma, fled to Australia shortly before his sentence was handed down.

Sirul said last year he would cooperate with any new investigation into the murder if he were given a full pardon.

By Rozanna Latiff

Source:https://www.theepochtimes.com/

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Altantuya’s son tells of rejection by father, a popular singer in Mongolia

SHAH ALAM, Jan 31 — The High Court here today was told by Mungunshagai Bayarjargal that his father had refused to take him in after his mother, Altantuya Shaariibuu was murdered in 2006.

Testifying as the fourth witness in his family’s RM100 million civil lawsuit against the Malaysian government, Mungunshagai said he reached out to his father, Bayarjargal Bayasgalam, whom he described as a popular singer in Mongolia, for support after Altantuya’s death and was rejected.

“My father clearly told me he was married again. He has other children and he refused to take me in,” he replied under cross-examination to the Manjeet Singh Dhillon, the lawyer representing Abdul Razak Baginda who is also one of the defendants in the lawsuit.

Manjeet had asked Mungunshagai if his maternal grandfather, Shariibuu Setev who is the first plaintiff in the suit, had asked the college graduate if he wished to be with his father.

Referring to an interview with The Star featuring Bayarjargal and published on November 15, 2006, Manjeet cited that the pop singer had wanted to take custody of his son following Altantuya’s death.

When asked by Manjeet whether he agrees with the article’s content, Mungunshagai disagreed and explained that his father even acknowledged later in his life that he had refused to care for him when he was young.

“I disagree that my father wanted to take care of me. I spoke to him man-to-man. He was very clear at the time and he apologised to me for not being there when I grew up.

“As a son, he didn’t want me at that time. He admitted it and apologised to me,” he said.

Manjeet then asked whether Mungunshagai’s father wanted the best for him; however, Mungunshagai said he never felt loved by his father.

“I knew I had a father but I never felt any loved, any care from him ever. We never spent a night together,” he said.

Manjeet also asked whether Bayarjargal was able to care for him after his mother’s passing in 2006.

“How would I ever know, I never met him,” Mungunshagai replied.

Earlier today, Mungunshagai testified in court that he met his father for the first time in 2011 and while he was growing up, the pop singer would sometimes send him gift and toys.

Referring to the same news article, Manjeet also asked whether Mungunshagai knew that Altantuya had prevented his father from seeing him. The 21-year-old stated he had no knowledge of the matter.

Altantuya Shaariibuu’s son, Mungunshagai Bayarjargal, is pictured at the Shah Alam High Court January 31, 2019. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

On Tuesday, Mungunshagai testified in court that he had changed his name to Bayarkhuu Bayarjargal to escape the negative stigma from Altantuya’s murder.

In court today, Manjeet asked the unemployed college graduate whether he had kept the word “Bayar” in his name to signify his fondness of his father.

“I put it to you that you changed your name to Bayarkhuu Bayarjagal because you were proud of your father,” he said.

Mungunshagai disagreed, stating that the decision to change his name was made by his grandfather, Shariibuu and that “Bayar” was a very common Mongolian name, which means “joy”.

The hearing will resume on May 6 and start with the cross-examinations of Shariibuu.

Altantuya’s parents Shaariibuu and Altantsetseg Sanjaa, and Altantuya’s two sons had on June 4, 2007, filed a civil lawsuit to claim compensation for the mental shock and psychological trauma they suffered over her death.

However, Altantuya’s younger son, 15-year-old Alatanshagai Munkhtukga, was removed as a plaintiff following his death in 2017.

In the lawsuit where Altantuya’s family is seeking RM100 million as compensation, Sirul Azhar Umar, Azilah Hadri, Abdul Razak and the government of Malaysia were named as defendants.

Sirul and Azilah were convicted by the High Court in 2009 of killing Altantuya. They succeeded in overturning their convictions at the Court of Appeal in 2013, but the Federal Court in 2015 restored their convictions and sentenced them to death.

Abdul Razak, who was accused of abetting the two former police officers in her murder, was acquitted.

Sirul fled to Australia after the death sentence was handed down and is currently in detention there as Australian laws do not allow the extradition of anyone to a country where he or she may be subjected to the death penalty. Azilah is on death row here.

Source:www.malaymail.com

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Altantuya’s dad slams ex-Mongolian honorary consul to Malaysia

SHAH ALAM: Altantuya Shaariibuu’s father today questioned the integrity of a former honorary consul of Mongolia to Malaysia, who acted as a liaison officer between the family and the authorities here.

Shaariibuu Setev said his doubts about Syed Abdul Rahman Alhabshi were based on several incidents that took place over the course of his dealings with the latter in his daughter’s murder investigation.

Shaariibuu Setev says the court in his daughter’s murder trial delivered a judgment, but not justice.

On Aug 29, 2008, he said, Syed Abdul Rahman sent an email to the Mongolian foreign affairs ministry stating that he was a member of the then-ruling party and seeking to dismiss all speculation of the involvement of Najib Razak, who was deputy prime minister at the time.

In his witness statement today, Shaariibuu said the email was translated for him by a Mongolian lawyer after a ministry official, Ganbold D, provided him with a copy.

He also claimed Syed Abdul Rahman had invited him to his home in Kuala Lumpur, where he showed him a large photo of himself with Najib soon after the acquittal of Abdul Razak Baginda for abetment in Altantuya’s murder.

“He told me that they (Syed Abdul Rahman and Najib) were good friends,” Shaariibuu told the High Court when examined by lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo.

Shaariibuu, a retired professor, said Syed Abdul Rahman had also insisted that he hand over records of Altantuya’s flight tickets and bank statements as well as several photographs of her.

“I was under the impression that they were to be used for the criminal trial,” he added. “I do not know whether all those documents were sent to the relevant authorities or used in the trial.”

Shaariibuu said he had also discovered that Syed Abdul Raman and a Mongolian ministry official known as Aruinbold were working against the interest of him and his family.

“Aruinbold organised an exhibition,” he said, but did not provide further details in his testimony.

Shaariibuu said he had asked the ministry to remove Syed Abdul Raman from his position, which was later done.

He said he had been surprised at the court decision to convict policemen Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri of Altantuya’s murder as neither knew his daughter or had reason to kill her.

He said the prosecution had also refused to appeal against Razak’s acquittal without defence being called.

“My counsel (the late Karpal Singh) filed a judicial review, but the application was dismissed and we did not appeal to the Court of Appeal,” he added.

Shaariibuu said he felt that his testimony was brief, and that the parties involved had asked him very limited questions during the criminal trial.

He filed the civil suit in the hope of getting justice, he added.

“The criminal trial delivered a judgment, but not justice. I seek answers from this honourable court,” he said. “I believe the defendants caused the unlawful killing of my daughter.”

Altantuya was murdered in 2006 in the jungles in Puncak Alam near Shah Alam, Selangor. She was shot in the head before her body was blown up with explosives.

Sirul and Azilah, who were Najib’s personal bodyguards, were found guilty and sentenced to death for her murder by the Federal Court in February 2015.

Razak, who was an aide to Najib, was charged with abetting the duo but later acquitted without his defence being called.

Shaariibuu, his wife Altantsetseg Sanjaa, and Altantuya’s son Mungunshagai have named Razak, the government, Sirul and Azilah as defendants in their suit.

They allege that there was a conspiracy in Altantuya’s murder, and are seeking RM100 million in damages including dependency claims.

By V Anbalagan

www.freemalaysiatoday.com

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'I never met her': Former PM of Mongolia Najib denies links with slain Mongolian model Altantuya

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak reiterated on Wednesday (Jan 23) that he has never met slain model Altantuya Shaariibuu, after a witness testified that she saw a photograph that they had taken together.

“That is slander. Lies. I never met her. I swore in a mosque about this,” Najib told reporters in Cameron Highlands, where he is helping Barisan Nasional to campaign in a by-election.

Earlier in the day, 37-year-old Burmaa Oyunchimeg - who is the cousin of Altantuya and the first witness to testify in a civil lawsuit on the murder – said the slain woman was in a relationship with political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.

The witness said she first met Razak, who was married, when Altantuya introduced him to her at a hotel in Hong Kong towards the end of 2004.

"At that time, I was living in Hong Kong and she (Altantuya) had come from Mongolia for a holiday to visit me."

"When she introduced me to him (Razak), she told me that he was a friend, but later told me that they were in a relationship," said the witness.

The witness said the second time she met Razak was in Shanghai in January 2005, when both she and Altantuya flew in from Hong Kong and they met Razak at the airport.

The witness said the third meeting was in March 2005 in Singapore, adding that Altantuya and Razak had already arrived there before her.

NAJIB AND ALTANTUYA SEEN TOGETHER IN PHOTOGRAPH

Ms Burmaa said after she and Altantuya flew back to Mongolia from Singapore in March 2005, Altantuya showed her a photo of herself, Razak and a then deputy prime minister.

“I remember I saw a picture of three people, two men and Altantuya. I asked her who they were, and she said one was the deputy prime minister and the other was Razak who worked with him and do business together.”

"I asked her if they were brothers because of the same name. She said no, but they were best friends, business partners and worked together,” she said.

Sometime in 2006, the affair between Altantuya and Razak was said to have soured.

Altantuya came to Malaysia together with her sister and cousin to track down Razak, who had refused to see her.

On the night of Oct 19, 2006 at around 8pm, Altantuya appeared outside Razak’s home. On seeing her, two policemen from the Special Action Unit seized her and forced her into a car.

They drove her to a forested area in Shah Alam, Selangor. 

They threw her onto the ground and fired two shots into her head.

Altantuya Shaariibuu was the mistress of Abdul Razak Baginda, an associate of former prime minister Najib Razak. (File photo: AFP/Saeed Khan)
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/najib-razak-altantuya-never-met-mongolian-model-11158172

They then strapped military grade explosives onto her body and detonated them, blowing her body to bits.

Razak was charged with abetting her murder but he was freed by the High Court in 2008.

The policemen, Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri, who were once Najib's bodyguards, were found guilty and sentenced to death in 2015.

Azilah is currently on death row at Kajang prison while Sirul fled to Australia before the sentencing and is being held in a detention centre.

In 2007, Altantuya’s family filed a RM100 million (US$24.17 million) suit against Azilah, Sirul, Razak and the Malaysian government.

Najib has repeatedly denied knowing Altantuya or that he had any part in her death.

The Pakatan Harapan government announced last June that they would reopen investigations into the murder.
The trial continues on Thursday with Altantuya’s father providing his testimony. 

Altantuya Shaariibuu's father, Shaariibuu Setev. (Photo: Bernama)
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/najib-razak-altantuya-never-met-mongolian-model-11158172

Source: Bernama/CNA/aw(hm)

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Never ending Saga of Mongolian model killed in Malaysia continues-translator for Altantuya's family passes defense challenge

A translator hired to facilitate the RM100 million civil suit filed by the family of slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu has been approved by the High Court in Shah Alam.
Lawyers representing Altantuya's former lover Abdul Razak Baginda, and the government, had challenged the competency of Enkhjin Batbilig as a translator...

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Lawyer: Mahathir says Mongolian model murder case should be reopened

PUTRAJAYA The Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case could be reopened.

That is what the victim's father, Dr Shaariibuu Setev, and lawyer Ramkarpal Singh said Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had agreed to.

"He (Dr Mahathir) agreed that it is a case that warrants further investigation," said Mr Ramkarpal.

"The prime minister however is also adamant that the process must follow the rule of law. We also agreed with him and have started the due process, which began with meeting the Attorney-General (on Tuesday). We are confident that the rule of law will take its course.

"It was a very satisfactory meeting. The Prime Minister also spoke in detail with Dr Shaariibuu," Mr Ramkarpal told reporters outside the Prime Minister's office after the 30-minute meeting.

Also present were a Mongolian translator and a representative from the Mongolian consulate.

Dr Shaariibuu had lodged a report earlier yesterday at the Dang Wangi police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur seeking a fresh investigation into the 12-year-old case.

He said Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga had also expressed gratitude to Dr Mahathir.

After Pakatan Harapan's historic victory, Mr Khaltmaagiin had also written to Dr Mahathir.

"As the President of Mongolia, I pay special attention to the grave crime committed in Malaysia on Oct 18, 2006 - the murder of Ms Shariibuu Altantuya, a Mongolian national and a mother of two children," Mr Khaltmaagiin said in his letter.

He urged the then newly sworn-in premier to help bring justice to Ms Altantuya's family "to invigorate the atmosphere in the bilateral relations between our two countries".

Two former policemen, Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri, were convicted in 2009 of murdering Ms Altantuya and sentenced to death by the High Court, although the Court of Appeal overturned this in 2013.- THE STAR/ANN

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Dr Mahathir should reopen Altantuya case, says Mongolia's President

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should reopen the murder case of Altantuya Shariibuu, said Mongolia's President Khaltmaagiin Battulga.  

“I sincerely hope that you will pay attention to bringing justice, implementing court decisions and settling the civil suit of the family of the victim in a fair manner to invigorate the atmosphere in the bilateral relations between our two countries,” Battulga said in a letter to Dr Mahathir on Wednesday (May 16).  

“As the President of Mongolia, I pay special attention to the grave crime committed in Malaysia on Oct 18, 2006 - the murder of Ms Shariibuu Altantuya, a Mongolian national and a mother of two children," he added.  

The letter was reproduced on the official website of the president’s office.  

Battulga also congratulated Dr Mahathir for being sworn in again as Prime Minister, saying that under his previous tenure, Malaysia developed intensively and that its reputation in the regional and international arena strengthened tremendously.  

“I am confident that Your Excellency will extend valuable support in restoring and activating the traditionally friendly relations between Mongolia and Malaysia as well as strengthening the people-to-people ties,” he said.

Source:https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/05/18/dr-mahathir-should-reopen-altantuya-case-says-mongolia-president/

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SRC Mongolia coal deal done without feasibility study, says AG report on 1MDB

KUALA LUMPUR: Investment in a coal mine in Mongolia by a joint-venture company between SRC International Sdn Bhd (SRC) and Aabar Investments PJS,  was done without evidence showing a feasibility study being conducted.

The Auditor-General report said  the board of SRC approved a USS45.5mil investment in the coal industry in Mongolia without evidence to show a feasibility study on the status of the project to be undertaken by the joint venture ASRC in the Gobi Coal & Energy Limited (GCE) company. 

“SRC also invested in PT ABM Investama TBK, Indonesia amounting to US$120mil (RM366.68mil) through quoted shares listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. During the meeting on Feb 14, 2012, Chief Executive Officer of SRC reported an estimated profit on the investment amounting to US$4mil,” the report said.

The report said that as a subsidiary of 1MDB, SRC obtains financial resources from Government grants in the form of development grants of RM15mil from RM20mil approved by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) and RM2bil financing from the Retirement Fund (Incorporated) (KWAP). 

The proposal to establish SRC was submitted to ex-Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in August 2010. 1MDB established SRC on Jan 7, 2011.

Financing amounting to RM2bil was received on 29 August 2011 is a term financing of 10 years. The loan is secured by the Government which includes principal and financing benefits of RM2.902bil.

SRC’s objective was to identify and invest in projects related to exploration, extraction, processing and trading of conventional and renewable natural resources and minerals including acquisition and hold stocks, stocks or company securities. 

On Feb 15, 2012, SRC’s shareholding by 1MDB was transferred to the Ministry of Finance. 

The transfer of SRC shares reduced the operating losses of the 1MDB from RM25mil to RM16.2mil, lowering the gearing ratio of 1MDB from 12 times to 9.5 times and reducing the government’s total guarantee of RM2.902bil to the 1MDB Group.

Source:https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2018/05/16/src-mongolia-coal-deal-done-without-feasibility-study-says-ag-report-on-1mdb/

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Police identified Mongolian woman assailants

SHAH ALAM: Police have identified suspects involved in the shooting of a Mongolian woman at Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya yesterday. Selangor police chief Datuk Abdul Samah Mat said the police also have new leads which will help them solve the case. "We already have leads on those believed to be involved. We believe that with the leads we have, we will be able to solve this case," he said when met at the handing over of duty from outgoing Shah Alam police chief SAC Azisman Alias to ACP Shafien Mamat, here, today. Abdul Samah said based on investigation, police was confident that the Mongolian woman was not the intended target. "The target is the driver. We believe this attack has to do with old grudge and revenge related on past drug related activities between the suspect and the driver," he said, adding that the police are not ruling out the involvement of triads. Abdul Samah clarified that the victim was hit five times from the bullets fired by the assailants and not four as reported earlier. "The victim will undergo operation today. "Fortunately, the shots did not pierce vital organs and her condition is stable," he said. In the 5.45pm incident, the 26-year-old victim's sports utility car stopped near a traffic light at Dataran Bandar Utama because the driver wanted to answer a phone call when two men on a motorcycle approached the SUV and the pillion rider fired eight rounds at the victim.

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Mongolian woman shot in revenge spat

The Mongolian woman was shot four times by a motorcyclist when she was driving in Bandar Utama, Damansara yesterday evening

KUALA LUMPUR: A Mongolian woman was seriously injured after she was shot four times by one of two men on a motorcycle.

The victim was in a Toyota Land Cruiser with a local man when two men on a motorcycle approached them in a suspicious manner at Dataran Bandar Utama, Damansara, in the incident at 5.45 pm.

Petaling Jaya District Police Chief ACP Azmi Abu Kassim said one of them suddenly took out a pistol and shot at her eight times, with four slugs hitting her body and the rest going astray.

“The two suspects rode off. The woman’s companion, who was unhurt, quickly contacted the police,” he told reporters at the scene of the incident.

Azmi said the victim was rushed to the Damansara KPJ Hospital before being transferred to the University Malaya Medical Centre and was reported to be stable.

“Preliminary investigation found the incident was motivated by revenge,” he added.

- BERNAMA

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