PEOPLE'S POWER

Let’s meet man to man: Altantuya’s dad to Najib

Teoh El Sen | April 9, 2012

The father of the slain of the Mongolian national says the last time he tried to meet the premier, the latter bolted.

UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR: The father of slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu today said he wished to meet Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak “man to man.”

Speaking to reporters in Parliament on his three-day visit here, Setev Shaariibuu said – through a Mongolian translator – that the last time he wanted to meet Najib, the latter “ran away.”

“I wanted to meet the PM, but he ran away. I don’t mind meeting him again. Just to appeal to him… I don’t want to meet him as anyone but as a father, man to man,” he added.

The univeristy professor said that all he wanted to seek after almost six years was “real justice” and to bring the remains of his daughter back home.

Setev said that it was in accordance with the family’s religion that a burial should be hastened for Altantuya’s soul to rest in peace.

“I want (the government and Malaysians) to solve this case as soon as possible. I want to take my girl home, to bury her in her own country,” he added.

He also denied rumours that he had been paid by the Malaysian government to keep his lips sealed over the high-profile case which continues to haunt Najib.

“I deny this. I did not take even a single ringgit from the Malaysian government,” he stressed.

Instead, Setev said that he had paid the Malaysian government some US$20,000 for legal costs which has amounted to nothing.

He said that he was made aware of rumours accusing him of taking a bribe shortly after political consultant Abdul Razak Baginda was acquitted of all charges in connection with the murder.

“For six years I have been seeking justice but the Malaysian government did nothing.

“Now everybody knows me, everybody knows why I am here. Thank you for supporting me,” he said, adding that he has travelled the globe seeking support for his case.

Setev also expressed disappointment that despite his country sending numerous diplomatic notes to the Malaysian government, there had been no reply.

“I’m very surprised that Malaysia is keeping silent,” he added.

He said that his family now was living in financial dire straits following the death of his daughter. One of his granddaughters was in need of medical aide while another granddaughter, aged 14, needed to work to help the family survive.

Najib’s alleged involvement

In 2006, Altantuya’s remains were found in a secluded area in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam. Police investigation found that she was shot twice before her body was blown up using military-grade C-4 explosives.

Abdul Razak, said to be Altantuya’s one-time-lover and a close associate of Najib, was acquitted of a charge of abetting two Special Action Squad (UTK) members — Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar — in committing the murder.
On April 9, 2009, Azilah and Sirul were convicted and sentenced to hang when the High Court found them guilty of murdering the 28-year-old mother of two.

In the 70-page judgment in the Altantuya trial, which was only released recently, the judge did not allude to the murder motive for the two UTK personnel.

“Whatever the motive was, it is a matter of law that the motive, although relevant, has never been the essential to constitute murder,” wrote Shah Alam High Court judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin.

Opposition leaders accused that Najib might have also had an affair with Altantuya and that there was a connection between her murder and the controversial multi-billion ringgit Scorpene submarine deal between the Malaysian government and French arms manufacturer DCNS.

French prosecutors are preparing for a corruption trial which could see top Malaysian officials, including Najib, being asked to testify.

The RM7.3 billion deal was inked in 2002 when Najib was then defence minister. Najib has denied knowing Altantuya or being involved in her murder.

On June 4, 2007, Setev filed a civil suit for RM100 million against the Malaysian government seeking compensation for the physical and mental anguish of losing his eldest daughter. He lost the case and was ordered to pay costs, but is appealing the decision.