Nancy: Razak Baginda acquitted due to lack of evidence

KUALA LUMPUR: There was insufficient evidence to implicate the involvement of former political analyst Ab­dul Razak Baginda in the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu. 

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri (pic) said this was the reason why the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) did not file an appeal against the High Court’s decision to acquit Abdul Razak. 

"The Shah Alam High Court acquitted Abdul Razak without his defence being called as there was not enough evidence to es­tab­lish a prima facie case against him. 

"Based on the testimonies presented during the trial, a careful and detailed study was carried out by the prosecution to determine if an appeal against the High Court’s decision was necessary. 

"After an in-depth study, the AGC  was in the opinion that there was no strong evidence to prove Abdul Razak's involvement in the murder," said Nancy in a written reply to Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Taiping) at the Dewan Rakyat on Monday. 

Nga had asked what was the "real reason" the AGC did not file an appeal against the High Court's decision in the murder of the Mongolian model in 2006. 

The Federal Court convicted two former Special Action Unit personnel Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, 43, and C/Insp Azilah Hadri, 38, of murdering Altantuya. 

In 2009, Sirul and Azilah were convicted and sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court for killing the Mongolian woman at Mukim Bukit Raja, Klang, be­tween 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20.  

Ab­dul Razak, who was jointly charged with them, was ac­quit­ted by the High Court in 2008 after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.