Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak took the stand once again to declare his innocence in the infamous Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case, firmly stating he had no involvement. Speaking at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Najib reiterated that he never instructed former Special Action Unit officers Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar to commit the murder in 2006, claiming he had never even met the Mongolian woman.
"I was serving as Deputy Prime Minister then, and I can firmly state that I did not know Altantuya. I am completely innocent of this crime," Najib said, emphasizing that the only connection he had to the case was through Abdul Razak Baginda, who was working under his administration as a defence analyst. Razak Baginda was involved in negotiating a billion-dollar submarine deal with a French manufacturer, an arrangement that had placed Malaysia on the global defense procurement map.
Najib, now 72, made these statements as part of his testimony in a defamation suit he filed against former Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Tommy Thomas and publisher GB Gerakbudaya Enterprise Sdn Bhd. The lawsuit centers on Thomas' book "My Story: Justice in the Wilderness", in which it is alleged that Najib orchestrated the murder of Altantuya, smearing his name in one of Malaysia’s most high-profile criminal cases.
The former premier's counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, led the questioning during the hearing. When asked if Altantuya had any significant role in the arms deal, Najib dismissed the idea, stating, "She was certainly not involved in the higher levels of the negotiation. Media reports suggested she was an interpreter, but I’ve come to know later that she had a romantic relationship with someone else involved."
Najib took the opportunity to criticize Thomas for what he called a failure to verify facts before publishing the book. He highlighted that Thomas had previously prosecuted him in the SRC International and 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) cases, asserting that the allegations in the book were part of a larger effort to undermine his reputation. "This book was released after he left office and was widely distributed, both locally and internationally. It’s evident that the intention was to tarnish my image and portray me as the mastermind behind the murder," Najib stated.
The publication of the book had, according to Najib, confused the public about his role in the murder case and had caused significant harm to his reputation. He is seeking general, aggravated, and exemplary damages, along with a court order to remove the defamatory statements from the book.
The hearing, overseen by Judge Datuk Khadijah Idris, will continue on June 30 next year, with both sides expected to present more evidence.
This defamation case adds to the ongoing legal battles faced by Najib, who is already embroiled in multiple high-profile corruption cases. Nevertheless, he maintains that these accusations are part of a larger conspiracy to destroy his political career and legacy.
The Altantuya case, which has long been a point of contention in Malaysian politics, continues to cast a shadow over Najib's reputation. However, he remains resolute in defending his innocence, telling the court, 'My integrity and reputation have been tarnished with baseless accusations.' The question remains: will Najib's legal battles exonerate him, or will the shadow of this high-profile murder case continue to loom large over his legacy?
By: Kpost
Information Source: Bernama
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