Shaariibuu anxious about slow pace of trial

SHAH ALAM : Dr Shaariibuu Setev, the father of murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, is seeking a meeting with the attorney-general (A-G) to express his concern over the slow pace of the trial, as the family wants to see it concluded as soon a possible.

His lawyer Karpal Singh said: "The family’s anxiety and pain is understandable after what they had gone through, and the Mongolian public who keep tabs on the trial proceedings via news websites are also concerned with the way the trial is proceeding."

"We will fix an appointment to meet with the A-G as soon as possible, even tomorrow if he can, because it is important to satisfy the family and Dr Shaariibuu that what’s happening is transparent," said Karpal, adding that the frequent interruptions to the trial were causing distress to the family.

They don’t understand why it cannot just go on continuously until it is all over," Karpal said.

This is the third time Shaariibuu has travelled to Malaysia since the trial started in June 2007. He arrived on Monday (April 21) night and will be here for the next 14 days.

Speaking to newsmen in the Shah Alam High Court today, Shaariibuu said he is willing to tell all in a television interview with any local television station, adding he had made this proposition before but no one followed up.

Speaking through lawyer Munkhsaruul Mijiddorj who translated his conversation from Mongolian to English for the media, Shaariibuu said he has been frequently visited by various international organisations except those from Malaysia.

Shaariibuu said he met with the Mongolian Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of Justice three days ago.

The Mongolian prime minister has expressed his concern and wants to know why there is a delay, he said, adding that Mongolians feel that the Malaysian court is wasting time by not focusing on the relevant issues.

A representative of the Mongolian government is expected to visit Malaysia soon to raise the matter with Malaysian officials.

Shaariibuu has also sought the help of international organisations, including the United Nations, to bring up the issue as a matter between the Malaysian and Mongolian governments.

He said: "I have written three letters to the Malaysian prime minister and two to the Foreign Minister and have not received any reply until now.

"No one is bothered (to respond) about this case and the whole country (Mongolia) is frustrated," Shaariibuu said, adding that his wife and grandson (Altantuya’s younger child) were unwell.

"The whole family has been waiting for a verdict for almost a year and we are tired, and I think it’s time to finish the trial," he said.

"We hope the trial will proceed continuously without any postponement, he added.

Shaariibuu added he hopes Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will uphold his pledge to make the courts and the judiciary transparent.

He said he did not blame all Malaysians for what had happened but in light of Malaysia’s reputation as highlighted in the recent Amnesty International report, things have to be set straight and justice served.

"I know that whatever I do will not bring my daughter back to life, but what is important now are her two children," said Shaariibuu.

Mongolian consulate in Malaysia Syed Abdul Rahman Al Habshi said he wanted to stress that Shaariibuu had said that he wanted people to stop politicising the case and focus on the three accused instead of implicating others.

Munkhsaruul Mijiddorj, who was representing 40 non-governmental organisations in Mongolia, also distributed a letter of demand from the organisations asking:

> that the defendants and people responsible for hiring the murderers be punished as fair justice;

> that Malaysia provides compensation for the loss of the breadwinner for Altantuya’s two children, including support for living and medicl treatment costs, for the youngest so for the duration of his lifetime in compliance with the UN declaration of basic principles of justice for victims of crime and abuse of power;

> that Malaysia pay attention to the two children’s social, health and care and solve the reality that the deceased children cannot enjoy their rights under the UN Child Right Convention;

> a strong stand against the press and media which blamed the victim and had influenced public opinion badly without questioning the perpetrators of this gross crime against a woman and her children.

The statement said the matter would be pursued internationally by Mongolian Women and Child Rights NGOs if Malaysia does not handle the case in a true and just manner.

Investigating officer Tonny Lunggan is still in the midst of identifyting more than 400 case exhibits, including bone fragments and explosive materials.

The Sun