sirul azhar umar won’t be extradited to malaysia _ altantuya shaariibuu c4
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3/1/2015 Sirul Azhar Umar won’t be extradited to Malaysia | Altantuya Shaariibuu C4
http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/australiapressuredbymalaysiatoextraditeconvictedsocialitekillerbeingheldinbrisbane/storyfnh81fz81227193579… 1/6
World
Australia pressured by Malaysia toextradite convicted socialite killer being held inBrisbane
WARNING: Graphic content.
It’s a foreign murder that has landed Australia in diplomatic hot water.
Malaysian man Sirul Azhar Umar, 43, was convicted this month in absentia and sentenced to be hangedfor murdering and blowing up model and socialite Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, in 2006.
He fled Malaysia before the conviction and, when he was detained in Brisbane on Tuesday for a visaviolation, his crime became Australia’s problem.
Under Australian law, immigration officials cannot extradite a person who could face capital punishment.Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has declined to comment but experts say Australia can refuse extraditionuntil Malaysia gives assurances that Sirul will not be sentenced to death.
BY: ROHAN SMITH
FROM: NEWS.COM.AU
JANUARY 22, 2015 5:11PM
Sirul Azhar Umar, covers his face after being arrested for the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu. Source: Supplied
3/1/2015 Sirul Azhar Umar won’t be extradited to Malaysia | Altantuya Shaariibuu C4
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Altantuya Shaariibuu in an undated passport photo. Source: Facebook
3/1/2015 Sirul Azhar Umar won’t be extradited to Malaysia | Altantuya Shaariibuu C4
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SHOT TWICE AND BLOWN UP
The murder was gruesome. In late October, 2006, the remains of Mongolian national Altantuya werefound in a jungle clearing near Kuala Lumpur. She is believed to have been shot twice before her bodywas blown up by explosives. All that was left were bone fragments and pieces of flesh.
Sirul, a former policeman and elite commando in Malaysia, was charged with the murder alongsideformer Malaysian chief inspector Azilah Hadri.
It has long been alleged that Altantuya’s murder was linked to her connections with Malaysiangovernment officials and specifically related to her yearlong affair with Abdul Razak Baginda, a friend ofMalaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. The pair’s relationship did not end amicably.
Altantuya had helped Abdul Razak broker a deal that would allow Malaysia to purchase submarines fromthe French. But everything went wrong when she started to ask for money.
Sirul Azhar Umar is being held in Queensland. Source: Supplied
3/1/2015 Sirul Azhar Umar won’t be extradited to Malaysia | Altantuya Shaariibuu C4
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‘I’M JUST NORMAL GIRL TRYING TO MEET MY LOVER’.
Altantuya was a glamorous young woman identified at different times as a socialite, a parttime modeland a translator. Originally from Mongolia, she was also reportedly pregnant.
Asia Sentinel reported in 2007 that Altantuya appeared to demand money from Abdul Razak for the careof her child — a baby he may have fathered. She was last seen by eyewitnesses getting into a caroutside Abdul Razak’s house with the two elite bodyguards.
The website referenced a letter from Altantuya found after her death that mentioned both her lover and athreat to her life.
“I’m just normal girl trying to meet my lover who lied to me and promised many things but now wants toput me in jail or kill,” Altantuya is quoted as saying.
“Yes I try to blackmail him. Maybe it’s my fault but I really understand he doesn’t love me anymore and Ineed to stop.”
The victim, Altantuya. Source: Facebook
3/1/2015 Sirul Azhar Umar won’t be extradited to Malaysia | Altantuya Shaariibuu C4
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AUSTRALIA IN A TRICKY POSITION
Don Rothwell, an Australian National University professor of international law, told the Courier Mail thatAustralia will likely hold on to the former police commander because he cannot be sent back to Malaysiato face the death penalty.
“The Extradition Act makes it quite clear that if a person has been sentenced to capital punishment orhas been charged with an offence which could lead to the imposition of capital punishment, the attorneygeneral can refuse extradition until such time as appropriate assurances are given that capitalpunishment wouldn’t be applied,” Rothwell said.
“Unless Malaysia was able to give to Australia those assurances, under Australian law extradition wouldnot take place.”
Malaysian Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told the Bernama news agency that Malaysiawould consider bringing legal action against Australia if the government refused to extradite Sirul, theMail reported.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is in a tricky position given Australia’s position on capital punishment. Source: News Corp Australia
3/1/2015 Sirul Azhar Umar won’t be extradited to Malaysia | Altantuya Shaariibuu C4
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But Australian politicians are remaining tightlipped. The Department of Immigration said on Wednesdayin a carefullyworded statement that Australia is “aware of the Malaysian authorities” interest in Sirul butthat it could not comment further.