Australian authorities have released former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar who is convicted of murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, but have withheld his passport, Wisma Putra has said. Local daily New Straits Times reported today an unnamed Wisma Putra spokesman as saying that Australian authorities were monitoring Sirul’s movements despite his release. “His passport is being held, but Australian Immigration released him on certain conditions, including having to come forward if required by the authorities there,” the spokesman was quoted saying. International news wire AFP reported yesterday Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying that Malaysian police have formally requested Australia to extradite Sirul, who was detained by Australian immigration officials in Brisbane on Wednesday after global law enforcement agency Interpol issued a red notice. Sirul and former chief Inspector Azilah Hadri were charged with the murder of 28-year-old Altantuya in 2006 and convicted in 2009. They were freed after the appellate court acquitted them in 2013, but last week, the Federal Court reversed the acquittal and sent them back to hang, marking the end to the eight-year saga. Sirul was a no-show during the Federal Court hearing, however, and it was later revealed that he was in Australia and was unable to return due to a lack of funds. On Thursday, Australian paper Sydney Morning Herald reported an unnamed Australian Attorney-General’s Department spokesman as saying that Australia’s extradition legislation prohibited someone from being sent back to another country for an offence punishable by death, unless that country pledged not to carry out a death sentence. In Malaysia, a mandatory death sentence is imposed for murder and drug trafficking offences, while Australia opposes capital punishment.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 10:18:00 +0000
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