Malaysia PM denies 2006 murder claim
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has dismissed claims by a former police officer that the latter had been ordered to kill a woman linked to highly sensitive corruption allegations back in 2006.
On Thursday, the premier, who was serving as defense minister in 2006, slammed the accusations by former policeman Sirul Azhar Umar as “total rubbish.”
Sirul, who fled to Australia to escape the death penalty, said he and another officer were ordered by “important people” to kill 28-year-old Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian woman who had purportedly been acting as a translator in negotiations over Malaysia’s 2002 purchase of submarines from France.
“I was under orders. The important people with motive are still free,” Sirul told the Malaysiakini news portal.
There has been speculation that her murder was ordered to keep her quiet over purported kick-backs to high-level Malaysian officials over the purchase of two French and Spanish-built Scorpene submarines worth USD 2 billion.
The former police officer says he is currently considering revealing why he was ordered to kill Altantuya to the media.
Sirul and the other officer, Azilah Hadri, were sentenced to death on January 13.
Australia has made it clear that it will not agree to a Malaysian request to extradite 42-year-old Sirul, unless Kuala Lumpur promises not to execute him.
In 2008, a private investigator working for Abdul Razak, who was a close Najib associate tasked with executing the deal, gave a sworn statement accusing the current premier of having been in a relationship with the translator and also being involved in a cover-up of an investigation into her death.
Najib denies the accusations against him, saying he never met the 28-year-old woman.
SZH/HJL/HMV
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