Family of Altantuya Shaariibbu have to place a court deposit if they wanted to pursue a RM100million suit against Govt & Baginda

Govt and Baginda ask for deposit in Altantuya RM100mil suit

SHAH ALAM: After having suffered the loss of their daughter, the family of murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibbu (picture) may have to place a court deposit if they wanted to pursue a RM100million suit against the Malaysian government and her lover, political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda.

The High Court here has set March 30 to hear the application for the undertaking of costs by the Government and Abdul Razak who was a close aide of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

High Court deputy registrar Mohd Hafizi Abdul Halim set the date when the case came up for mention before him today.

Senior Federal Counsel Habibah Haron, who is representing the Malaysian government, when met by reporters afterwards, said the government and Abdul Razak filed the application to get the plaintiffs (Altantuya’s family) to deposit a certain amount of money with the court to assure that they would continue with the proceedings of the suit over the death of the Mongolian woman.

She said the court had also ordered the parties involved to file their written submissions prior to Feb 9 before proceeding to hear the application (undertaking of costs).

On June 4 2007, Altantuya’s parents, Shaariibuu Setev, Altantsetseg Sanjaa and Altantuya’s two children Mungunshagai Bayarjargal and Altanshagai Munkhtulga sued the government, Abdul Razak and two people accused with murdering her, C/Insp Azilah Hadri and Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar, and demanded RM100 million in damages over her death.

In their statement of claim, the family among others cited that the mental shock and psychological trauma they suffered as a result of her death justified that they be paid exemplary and aggravated damages.

They further claimed that Altantuya was shot dead and her corpse blown up with C4 explosives by Azilah and Sirul Azhar, who are members of the police’s Special Action Unit (UTK), and that pieces of her body were found at a forested area in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam, on Nov 7 2006.

The family also alleged that Abdul Razak had conspired with the two policemen concerned to murder Altantuya.

They further claimed that as a result of the actions of Azilah, Sirul Azhar and Abdul Razak, they suffered grief and loss especially Altantuya’s two children losing their mother’s love and their only source of livelihood.

Besides exemplary and aggravated damages, Altantuya’s family, who filed the suit through the law firm of Messrs Karpal Singh & Co, are also seeking interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court, according to Bernama

Abdul Razak, 49, was charged with abetting Azilah, 34, and Sirul Azhar, 38, in the murder of Altantuya, 28, in 2006.

He was acquitted by High Court judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yassin on Oct 31 2008 without his defence being called.

On April 9 2009, Azilah and Sirul Azhar were found guilty of murdering Altantuya and sentenced to death.
12/01/2010

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