Published November 1, 2008
Analyst walks free over model's murder
Prosecution failed to establish case: Court

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(Shah Alam)

SMILE OF RELIEFMr Abdul Razak was released from custody yesterday, almost two years after being arrested
A COURT acquitted a close friend of Malaysia's deputy prime minister yesterday of abetting the murder of a Mongolian woman in a ruling that revived opposition claims of political interference in the judiciary.
High Court judge Mohamad Zaki Yasin ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a case against political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, an associate of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The court ordered two police officers to remain on trial for allegedly carrying out the slaying.
The case, which captured national attention because of the gruesome nature of the killing and the personalities involved, has not directly implicated the government.
Mr Abdul Razak had been charged with abetting the October 2006 slaying of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian interpreter and former model who was blown up with military-grade explosives in a jungle clearing near Shah Alam, the capital of Selangor state. Only fragmented remains of her body were found.
Judge Mohamad Zaki ruled that there was a sufficiently strong case against the two elite police officers who are accused of carrying out the killing and ordered them to enter their defence.
Soon after the ruling, Mr Abdul Razak walked out of custody a free man, almost two years after he was arrested from his office in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 7, 2006. 'I just want to go home; get out of my way,' he said on the way to his car after he was greeted with hugs and tears from waiting relatives.
The prosecution alleged that he ordered the killing after the 28-year-old Ms Shaariibuu started pestering him for money.
Prosecutor Abdul Majid Hamzah said he would consider filing an appeal against the court's decision. 'The fight is not over yet,' he told reporters.
The slain woman's father, Shaariibuu Setev, who has launched a RM100 million (S$41.8 million) civil suit against the Malaysian government, said the handling of the case had damaged Malaysia's international standing. 'I am not satisfied. My daughter knows only one Malaysian and it is Razak Baginda. Now my daughter is dead and (Razak) Baginda is freed,' he said. -- AP, Reuters, Bloomberg