In a landmark decision, the Federal Court commuted the death sentence of Azilah Hadri, one of the two former Special Actions Unit (UTK) officers convicted of the brutal 2006 murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, to a 40-year jail term. The decision comes as a surprise to many, given the gruesome nature of the crime. Yet, what stands out even more is the remarkable letter of support from Altantuya’s father, Shaariibuu Setev, which played a key role in the court’s judgment.
Azilah’s case has captivated the Malaysian public for nearly two decades, marked by high-profile connections, unresolved motives, and the dramatic escape of his accomplice, Sirul Azhar Umar, to Australia. Today’s decision by the Federal Court, chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, represents a significant shift in Azilah's fate, from the gallows to a life behind bars.
The court, taking into account Shaariibuu’s letter, as well as Azilah’s affidavit, found strong mitigating factors that warranted leniency. “In our view, there are strong mitigating factors to apply the proportionality principle in sentencing. The death sentence is set aside and substituted with a 40-year jail term,” Chief Justice Tengku Maimun stated, emphasizing the unique circumstances of the case. Along with the prison term, Azilah, now 48, will receive the mandatory 12 strokes of the rotan.
Azilah’s lawyer, J Kuldeep Kumar, successfully presented Shaariibuu’s letter to the court, with no objections from the prosecution. This letter, as confirmed by the family’s representative lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo, underlined a profound message of forgiveness and the belief in the sanctity of life, leading the court to take a more lenient stance in its sentencing.
The court proceedings further revealed that Altantuya, 28, was allegedly involved in espionage, possessing classified information that posed a threat to national security. Azilah, acting on instructions from his superior, Musa Safri, then Najib Razak’s aide-de-camp, was reportedly tasked with eliminating her. However, the motive behind the crime remains elusive to this day, despite these claims.
The infamous murder, which saw Altantuya’s body blown up using C4 explosives in a remote area near Shah Alam, had left Malaysia shocked and outraged. Both Azilah and Sirul were sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court in 2009, only for the convictions to be overturned in 2013. However, the Federal Court later reinstated their convictions in 2015, leaving Sirul to flee to Australia before the final verdict.
The murder case has long been shrouded in controversy, with the acquittal of political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, a close confidante of then-Prime Minister Najib Razak, further fueling speculation and questions about the true motive behind Altantuya’s killing. Despite widespread speculation, the reason for her murder has never been conclusively revealed in court.
The commutation of Azilah’s sentence may mark the beginning of closure for some, but it leaves lingering questions. For Altantuya’s family, however, the court’s decision appears to align with their belief in justice tempered with compassion. As Sangeet Kaur Deo stated after the proceedings, “The father’s letter reveals that the family values the sanctity of life and the right to existence.”
This case, long intertwined with political intrigue, remains one of Malaysia’s most infamous criminal cases, but today’s decision offers a rare glimpse of humanity amid the ongoing pursuit of justice.
Shaariibuu's Letter to Court: Underlined a profound message of forgiveness and the belief in the sanctity of life and the right to existence
By: Kpost
Information Source: Fmt
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