PUTRAJAYA: The father of slain Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu stunned the Federal Court when he backed his daughter's murderer's application to review his death sentence today.
Azilah Hadri, together with Sirul Azhar Umar, both former policemen, were found guilty of murdering Altantuya by shooting her to death before blowing up her body with explosives at a secluded spot near the Subang Dam in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam, in 2006.
Lawyer J. Kuldeep Kumar had everyone at the edge of their seats when he read out the letter by Shaariibuu to support Azilah's application to review his death sentence and have it commuted to imprisonment, following the Mandatory Death Penalty Abolition Act 2023, which took effect on July 4 last year.
"It is crucial to recognise that the United Nations declares the sanctity of life, emphasising that all beings on this planet have a right to existence.
"My request stems from a deep respect for the humanity of Mongolians.
"Additionally, I ask that you convey the relevance of this request to Sirul Umar, who co-perpetrated this tragic case, as well as to his lawyer, the court, the prosecutor's office, and the government
"Let us honour the virtues of humanity and uphold truthful expression in every nation," the letter said.
Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo, who was holding a watching brief for Shaariibuu in the hearing also confirmed that she had handed the letter to Kuldeep Kumar.
Later, A three-member Federal Court bench led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat allowed Azilah's application and commuted his death sentence to 40 years' imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane.
Other members of the bench were Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim and Federal Court judge Datuk Nordin Hassan.
In 2009, the Shah Alam High Court imposed the death penalty against the duo after finding them guilty of murdering Altantuya at Mukim Bukit Raja in Shah Alam between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am the following day in 2006.
Meanwhile, the court acquitted political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda of abetting the murder.
Even if the Appellate court has ruled to free Azilah and Sirul from the charges, the Federal Court in 2015 overturned the decision and upheld the death sentence imposed by the High Court.
Sirul Azhar fled to Australia and was later apprehended by Australian immigration, while Azilah has been serving his sentence as a death row inmate since then.
He filed a review over the top court's ruling in 2019, together with his 32-page statutory declaration, which claims that the order to kill Altantuya had come from Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was the deputy prime minister.
He also had sought to set aside his conviction and death sentence imposed by the Federal Court on Jan 13, 2015, and an order for retrial.
However, his application was dismissed by a five-man bench led by the then Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Azahar Mohamed on Dec 8, 2020.
In 2022, Altantuya's family won RM5 million in damages in a civil suit against Azilah, Sirul, Abdul Razak, and the government after they were found liable for her death.