KUALA LUMPUR - Jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak implores the Malaysian government to engage with its Australian counterpart and re-initiate the extradition of Sirul Azhar Umar.
Najib’s request was relayed by his counsel, Shafee & Co., following a tell-all interview by Al-Jazeera in its 101 East Programme on Friday, where Sirul cast a bevy of aspersions, implying Najib’s role in the murder of mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaaribuu in 2006.
In a statement issued today, Shafee & Co. stated that in order to ease Sirul’s return — so that his claims can be thoroughly investigated — Najib mooted for the fugitive to be assured that a death sentence would not be greeting him once he return to Malaysian soil.
"Our client requests the current Malaysian Government to engage with the Australian authorities with an aim to facilitate Sirul's extradition to Malaysia, ensuring a comprehensive investigation into his claims.
Shafee & Co. also reiterated that Najib has been conclusively exonerated of any involvement in this case.
This exoneration has been affirmed by relevant authorities, including investigations restarted post the 14th General Election (2018) and a reaffirmation by the High Court, Court of Appeal, and ultimately by way of a substantive appeal in the Federal Court that was comprehensively heard on its merits.
In a summary of these court proceedings, at no point of time in any of these courts was Najib implicated by either the prosecution or defence, stated Shafee & Co.
"Only in a last-ditch attempt at a Review did former Inspector Azilah Hadri attempt to provide a narrative implicating our client where the Federal Court held in 2020 that the allegation lacked substance in both in procedure and merit.
"The above is consistent with our client’s stance over the years where has repeatedly said that he has never met or knew Altantuya.
It was also pointed out that Najib categorically denied any allegations of seeking to influence or silence Sirul.
"In fact, he urges Sirul to be brave and to disclose any information he may have regarding the purported mastermind, in the interest of uncovering the truth, transparency and justice.
"As Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had pointed out, Sirul had been given the opportunity to defend himself in line with Malaysian laws and the constitution, and that Sirul's claim in his recent interview were never raised in any court that heard his case - from the High Court to the Court of Appeal and finally to the Federal Court.
"In this regard, our client states that given that Sirul was faced with the death penalty throughout his trials, he should have raised his recent allegations to the courts if the same had merit, but yet had not done so,” read the statement.
Shafee & Co. also quashed a claim in the interview stating that both Sirul and Azilah were dedicated bodyguards of Najib, stressing that the duo came from a rotating pool of bodyguards to be used by top leaderships in the then-Cabinet.