PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has restored the conviction and death sentence against Special Action Unit commandos Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar for the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.
A five-man bench chaired by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria, unanimously reversed the Court of Appeal’s acquittal of Chief Insp Azilah, 39, and Corporal Sirul, 44.
The panel also issued a warrant of arrest against Sirul, who did not attend proceedings this morning.
Azilah and Sirul, both elite Special Action Squad commandos, allegedly murdered Altantuya at Mukim Bukit Raja between 9.54pm on Oct 18, 2006, and 9.45pm the next day.
The duo were found guilty and sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court on April 9, 2009.
However, the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling on Aug 23, 2013.
Deputy Solicitor-General I Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah appeared for the appellant who is the Public Prosecutor.
Counsel Datuk Hazman Ahmad and Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin represented Azilah and Sirul respectively.