Prosecution Not Appealing Razak Baginda's Acquittal.

Political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, who was acquitted of abetment in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, can breathe easy after the prosecution confirmed Friday that it will not appeal the decision made by the Shah Alam High Court two weeks ago.

Deputy public prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah, who is leading the prosecution, said in a statement today that there would be no appeal because the trial judge had made a finding of fact in acquitting Abdul Razak.

"(There will be) no further comments in view that the case is continuing with the defence of Azilah (Hadri) and Sirul (Azhar Umar)," he said.

Justice Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin acquitted and discharged Abdul Razak, 48, without calling for his defence on Oct 31.

Abdul Razak was alleged to have abetted Chief Insp Azilah Hadri, 32, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, who are charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, in Mukim Bukit Raja between 10pm on Oct 19, 2006, and 1am the following day.

The two Special Action Unit operatives are scheduled to enter their defence on Jan 15 next year.

***** The prosecution confirmed Friday that it will not appeal the decision because the trial judge had made a finding of fact in acquitting Abdul Razak! Incredible logic, simply unbelievable. But then again did we really expect anything different?

Raja Petra's Statutory Declaration - 'Garbage' Says Najib

A full week after the astounding claim on the Internet, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dismissed Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s statutory declaration linking Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansur to the Altantuya murder as "politically motivated, fabricated garbage."

Raja Petra, editor of online news portal Malaysia Today, filed the declaration at the High Court here on June 18, naming three individuals who were purportedly present when Mongolian translator Altantuya Sharibuu was murdered in 2006. Apart from Rosmah the two other individuals named were acting colonel Aziz Buyong, who is described as ‘a C4 expert’ and the latter’s wife, known only as Norhayati, who is also said to be Rosmah’s aide de camp.

Raja Petra had further alleged that he had also been 'reliably informed' that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi knows of Datin Seri Rosmah's alleged involvement and that Pak Lah had received a written report from military intelligence confirming the allegation and that this report was subsequently handed over to his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin for safekeeping.

The PM has since denied any knowledge of such a report.

Najib said the police have taken a statement from his wife, but described Raja Petra’s allegations in the statutory declaration as "a desperate and pathetic attempt to taint my political image."

On Monday the police had said that they were investigating Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin on his statutory declaration over purported facts related to the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu under Section 203 of the Penal Code.

Federal CID director Comm Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin had said that it was an offence punishable up to two years’ jail or a fine, or both, for anyone to give false information.

He said police had yet to pick up Raja Petra for questioning as they were still studying the allegations filed by the 58-year-old blogger on June 18.

This allegation is naturally causing quite a stir and concern right up to the higher echelons of power. Of course the veracity of such a surprising revelation is in itself doubtful and one must wonder what Raja Petra's long term strategies are. As for the immediate consequences, suffice to say that his statutory declaration has got tongues wagging, politicians all riled up and the Malaysian blogosphere working overtime to make some sense out of it. And let's not forget that the Mongolians and the rest of the world are carefully watching and I'm sure wondering, "what the devil is going on?"
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Who Is The Randy Ex-Cabinet Minister?

A former Cabinet minister is under investigation for allegedly outraging the modesty of a promoter at a five-star hotel in the city.

He allegedly fondled the 32-year-old woman last Thursday at one of the hotel’s exclusive sections.

It is learnt police have recorded a statement from the woman and are expected to record the senior politician’s statement when he returns from overseas.

The woman claimed several people witnessed the incident that happened at about midnight, and urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation.

City CID chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Ku Chin Wah confirmed a report had been lodged against a senior politician. He declined to elaborate. The politician, when contacted, declined to comment. (The Star)

***** I don't think it is Dr Chua Soi Lek. It's doubtful he would risk getting his name in the headlines so soon after the sex video scandal. Can't be Semi Value. Call him a dozen things, but outraging the modesty of a thirty-something is not in his turf. The very thought of Dr Lim Keng Yaik indulging in a little raba-raba on the side can only invoke laughter.

So who is this randy 'senior' politician and ex-cabinet minister who cannot keep his hands to himself?

Hanif Basree Walks Out A Free Man After Federal Court Upholds Acquittal

Shah Alam City Council engineer Hanif Basree Abdul Rahman walked out a a free man Friday after the Federal Court here upheld his acquittal on a charge of murdering business development executive Noritta Samsuddin.

The five man-bench comprising Justices Datuk Arifin Zakaria, Datuk Nik Hashim Ab.Rahman, Datuk Hashim Yusoff, Datuk Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin and Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi (now Court of Appeal president) unanimously threw out the prosecution's appeal to set aside the High Court's decision to free Hanif.

Zaki, who delivered the judgment, said that the High Court and Court of Appeal had correctly examined the evidence adduced and applied the correct principles in coming to their findings.

"The prosecution has not discharged its burden in this case. The trial judge was right in deciding not to call Hanif to make his defence and subsequently discharging and acquiting him," Zaki said.

On Jan 29, 2005, the Court of Appeal dismissed the prosecution's appeal to set aside the High Court's decision on July 2004 acquitting Hanif without calling for his defence.

Hanif, 39, was accused of killing Noritta, 22, at No D-7-1, Puncak Prima Galleria Condominium in Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur, between 1.30am and 4am on Dec 5, 2003.

The whole panel was present except for Justice Arifin who had some business to attend to. (Bernama)
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Lee Kuan Yew Warns S'pore Must Brace Itself If Terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari Escapes To Indonesia

The city-state must brace itself for a "return hit sometime" if accused terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari has escaped to Indonesia, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew warned in a published report on Saturday.

The alleged leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamish's (JI's) Singapore branch, who fled from a detention centre last month, would not be able to launch an attack if he is still in Singapore, Lee said in a media wrap-up after a week-long visit to three Gulf nations.

The escape of the 47-year-old man accused of plotting six years ago to hijack a plane and crash it into Changi Airport is a "very severe lesson in complacency" and shows that the city-state is not infallible, said Lee, Singapore's founding prime minister."We should have known that here is a man who has had several escapes," The Straits Times quoted Lee as saying. "But obviously, he is a very wily sort of person and must have won the confidence of whoever were his custodians."

"So when he said he wanted to go to the toilet, they allow him to go," Lee said. "Whether the toilet had bars and there was no exit from the windows, that has to be explained."

Authorities have not disclosed details of how Mas Selamat managed to escape from the Internal Security Department's detention centre, triggering criticism and ridicule on the internet for the country that has long prided itself for its security and restrictions.

Mas Selamat's escape has sparked the biggest manhunt in Singapore's history.

"I give him full marks for having won the confidence of his custodians - that he's completely docile, completely passive and he's going to remain in captivity," Lee said.

The public has been urged to be on the lookout for a man with a limp in a greenish-gray long-sleeved, hip-length shirt popular with Malays, which has been determined to be missing from Mas Selamat's belongings.

Still convinced the escapee is in Singapore, police are not relaxing their scouring of forests, jungle areas and the shores and seas. Inspections at checkpoints to Malaysia have left vehicles waiting for up to 15 hours.

Indonesia's army has also beefed up border patrols and set up roadblocks. The Java-born Mas Selamat fled Singapore in December 2001 and was subsequently arrested twice in Indonesia for violating the country's immigration laws. He was sent back to Singapore in 2006.

The escape shows "that it is a fallacy, it is stupid to believe we are infallible. We are not infallible. One mistake and we've got a big explosive in our midst. So let's not take this lightly," Lee was quoted as saying.

He called it a "very severe lesson of complacency." The authorities had been confident that they had their prisoner "sized up,' but he had sized up his custodians in turn.

Lee said he was not so worried as long as the fugitive had not made arrangements prior to his escape and was still in Singapore.

"He can't assemble an explosive in Singapore on his own, he can't get a team in Singapore, a JI team, to mount an attack," said Lee, referring to the South-East Asian terrorism network.

If he can get into Indonesia he "has his old networks," Lee said. "Then we have to watch out for a return hit sometime."

More than 1,000 officers from the Special Operations Command, police land divisions, Gurkhas and immigration officers have been involved in the search.

At the Singapore government's request, Interpol sent a photograph, fingerprints and other information to its 186 agencies worldwide, identifying the fugitive as a "potential threat to the safety and security of the public at large around the world."

Mas Selamat was also accused by the ministry of having been involved in plans to attack the US Embassy, the American Club and Singapore government buildings in retaliation for the city-state's arrest and detention of fellow JI members. (Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan)

***** To be constantly on guard for terrorist attacks by this person is a heavy price to pay for a momentary lapse of vigilance.
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Singaporeans Question Escape Of Alleged Militant Leader

Singapore's government has come under stinging public criticism after the escape of an alleged militant leader from custody dented the country's reputation for airtight security.

Letters to the editor and Internet blogs by Singaporeans took officials to task for the escape on Wednesday of Mas Selamat bin Kastari, alleged leader of the Singapore wing of the militant Islamic group Jemaah Islamiyah.

Open criticism of the government is rare in tightly ruled Singapore, but the apparent ease with which Kastari managed to slip out of a detention centre raised questions about the authorities' anti-terrorist measures.

Since his escape, security forces including paramilitary Nepalese Gurkhas employed by the police have been combing the island and keeping a tight watch on its borders with Malaysia and Indonesia.

Kastari was accused of plotting to hijack a plane in order to crash it into Singapore's busy Changi Airport in 2001, but never charged in court. He was being held under an internal security law which allows for detention without trial.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said Kastari escaped after he was permitted to use the toilet during a visit by family members.

"I am sure Singaporeans would like to know the details of the escape -- what happened from the time the terrorist left for the restroom while his family members were waiting for him," said a letter from reader Rosemary Chwee published Saturday by Singapore's leading daily, The Straits Times.

"Such a slip is professionally unforgivable... As a citizen, I am deeply concerned, especially if Mas Selamat continues to be on the loose," she wrote.

Police flyers seeking public help in recapturing the 47-year-old Kastari say he is "not known to be armed" and walks with a limp.

"What puzzles me is how a middle-aged man who has difficulty walking can leave the detention center with such ease," wrote another reader, Siow Jia Rui.

Another letter writer, Lee Beng Hai, suspected Kastari could have been helped by "sleepers and sympathizers."

Internet blog sites -- the usual refuge of Singapore government critics who are denied space in the mainstream media -- were full of chatter and conspiracy theories on the escape.

Even the Straits Times, which is closely identified with the government, said in an editorial that the authorities had to confront the question of whether Kastari had help. "It stretches credulity to imagine this was an opportunistic solo effort... The escape was too easy, too neat," it said.

If he had help, it would mean "terror cells are still morphing and sympathisers are being drawn into the network," the newspaper said. If he acted alone, "the system breakdown was egregious," it added.

"Security incidents like this one... will shake confidence in the anti-terror system." The editorial said complacency may have set in because Singapore has been spared from terrorist violence so far.

Since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, Singapore has implemented tough security measures and rounded up suspected militants and sympathisers of the Jemaah Islamiyah.

The group has been blamed for a series of attacks including the 2002 bombings on the Indonesian resort island of Bali which killed 202 people, mostly tourists.

Kastari, a Singaporean citizen of Indonesian ancestry, was handed over by Indonesian officials after his second arrest there in 2006.

Singapore is a predominantly ethnic Chinese city-state which has a Malay Muslim minority and hosts hundreds of thousands of foreign workers, many of them Malaysians and Indonesians.
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Malaysian Police Finds 123 Bombs Near Tampoi

Image above - A Cluster Bomb
Malaysian marine police recovered 123 bombs in the waters near Tampoi in Malaysia's southern state of Johor over the past days, local media reported on Thursday.

The bombs included three cluster bombs and Malaysian police mobilized naval divers and boats to find these bombs.

The bombs have been detonated at a shooting range by the police bomb squad in Johor.

It looks like some terrorist whackos are on the loose in the country. The government should come up with a satisfactory explanation at the earliest.

What is the point of screaming Barisan Nasional stands for 'stability and peace' if at some venue or venues a group of crackpots succeed in detonating a couple of explosives? The consequences would be unthinkable. But come to think of it, perhaps such an incident may actually frighten the average citizen into voting for BN! Hmmm.

Singapore Terrorist Leader Escapes

A Singapore terrorist leader escaped from a local detention center on Wednesday, local TV reported.

Local television Channel NewsAsia quoted a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as saying that Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) detainee Mas Selamat Kastari escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Center at 4.05 pm local time.

Mas Selamat was the leader of the Singapore JI network and once planned to attack Singapore's Changi airport, said the report.

He was arrested by the Indonesian police on Bintan island in January 2006 and then sent back to Singapore, Channel NewsAsia said.

The Home Affairs Ministry said the terrorist walks with a limp and is presently at large.

He is not known to be armed, and extensive police resources have been deployed to track him down, according to the report.

Jemaah Islamiyah is an Indonesia-based terrorist organization linked to al-Qaida or the Taliban. (Xinhua)

***** Small time crooks, drug addicts and petty thieves disappearing from police lock-ups and rehab centres is quite a common occurrence in Malaysia. But a terrorist like Mas Selamat successfully escaping from the super-efficient Singapore authorities is indeed a surprise. Suspicion naturally would be on an inside job perhaps from a couple of JI sympathisers within the centre.
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Former IGP Tun Hanif's House Burgled

Former Inspector General of Police Tun Hanif Omar's house in USJ 12 was burgled at 6.30am this morning. Fortunately nobody was harmed during the burglary. All that the thieves managed to get away with were a DVD player and a bunch of keys.

However it seems a little odd that there are quite a number of senior police officials, mostly retired, whose houses have been targeted in the recent past. Is there a pattern to these apparently random thefts or is there something more sinister?

Only yesterday the former IGP had opined that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) should be independent of the executive. Tun Hanif has also lately been outspoken on corruption in the police force. Could this and other burglaries at the homes of these senior police officers be a veiled threat by certain 'interested' quarters? A sort of warning not to rock the perahu as well as to show that his status as former top cop does not guarantee his safety and that he is as vulnerable as the next guy? Your guess is as good as mine.
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Insufficient Evidence In Body Parts Murder Case - Sole Suspect Freed

Malaysian police have freed on bail a woman who was the sole suspect in the murder of a Singapore man whose body was chopped into 11 pieces and stuffed into a refrigerator.

A newspaper said on Saturday the surprise move came after government prosecutors found there was insufficient evidence to link the 33-year-old Malaysian with the gruesome murder.

"There is lack of evidence," prosecutor Yusof Zainal Abideen was quoted by the New Straits Times as saying. "If there is new and sufficient evidence, we will consider charging her."

The remains of 39-year-old businessman Goh Yoke Seng were discovered in black bin bags at a posh apartment in Kuala Lumpur when the new owner of the apartment went to clean the unit, which had been vacant for more than three months.

A strong stench led the owner and security guard to the refrigerator, which had been sealed with masking tape.

Singapore newspapers had said the victim was believed to have been married to the woman and had been out of touch with his own family for nearly two years.

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Selangor Datuk's Award Revoked. HRH The Sultan Of Selangor Should Inquire If This Or Other Titles Were Sold

The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has stripped a businessman of his Datukship. He has suspended another businessman’s Datukship and extended the suspension on four others.

In a decision reached during a meeting of the Council of the Royal Court on Aug 2, Indonesian businessman Kenneth Chow, who is also known as Wira Tjakrawinata, was stripped of his Datuk Paduka Mahkota Selangor (DPMS) title awarded to him in 1999.

Former NasionCom Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Chee Kok Wing had his Datuk Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (DSSA) title, awarded to him in
2000, suspended.

Chow, 51, who was former adviser of Milan Auto Sdn Bhd, had pleaded guilty to providing false information in a Securities Commission case. Chee, who also has a Datukship from a different state, had been charged in court last May with involvement in the submission of false information related to NasionCom.

State secretary Datuk Ramli Mahmud said in a statement that the Council meeting had also decided to extend the suspension of Datukship of four others as their cases were still pending in court.

They are former state executive councillors Saidin Thamby and Mohd Shariff Jajang, former Universiti Teknologi Mara sports science faculty dean Dr Mohd Saberi Salleh and former Tabung Haji senior manager (investment) Mohamad Shafie. (NST)

***** Well done! His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin should be congratulated for correcting the mistakes made by the Selangor state government in selecting white-collar criminals, corrupt politicians and unworthy civil servants for the Datukship, thereby bringing the Royal award into disrepute.

The Sultan should closely investigate how some of these specimens, especially the business-dealing rich chinamen who can't even speak proper Bahasa Malaysia were given the awards. Did money change hands? If it did, how much? More importantly who is the highly placed traitor in this 'developed' state responsible for getting these criminals into the birthday honours list? That should make interesting reading.

Ask the top leaders and they will reflexly trot out the same rubbish - "vetted by the police, State Secretary is in charge of the list, strict procedure, we have no say in selection" etc., etc. Bunkum! Someone is making a huge pile of legal tender and it would be wonderful to find out who. Then we can all request His Royal Highness to strip that political criminal off all Selangor state titles. And if that scum has any federal awards, we as loyal, law-abiding citizens can demand that those be revoked too.

Will this actually happen? Alas, one can at least dream, can't one?
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Which Crook(s) Hacked This Website?

A special website, SUARA RAKYAT, set up by the Insolvency Department to receive public complaints on Credit Tip Off Service Sdn Bhd (CTOS), has been hacked into by certain quarters.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk M. Kayveas said certain quarters had attempted to hack into the website, set up last Thursday, to transfer the data stored.

He said the hackers also attempted to channel the complaints sent to the Insolvency website to an undetected website.

"The hacking is done meticulously that the e-mails sent by complainants automatically go to the undetected website and not to the Insolvency website," he said in a statement today. Kayveas said following this discovery, the department was forced to transfer some of the data to a safer website.

"I shall not be hampered by such a tactic, but will continue to ensure that those who have been victimised by CTOS, especially those who were blacklisted, get justice," he added. He said those who had complaints against CTOS could do so at the Insolvency website where the safety features had been upgraded to prevent further hacking.

Last June 25, Kayveas issued a statement that the government had never issued a licence for CTOS to search for and provide information on individuals' financial background.

He said one of the complaints against CTOS was that it was still using out-dated information which resulted in some people not being able to get bank loans.

***** Whoever masterminded the hacking attempt must be a big time crook with little respect for the law. That the person(s) responsible for this were very curious about the complaints being made against CTOS is evident. Now WHO could be THAT interested about such complaints? Hmmm.

By the way does anyone know what kind of political connections CTOS has? What is the background of the company’s chief executive officer, Chung Tze Keong (pic)? Do you think that Chung and/or some of his colleagues could have been responsible for the hacking job?
Image Source:
1) Hacking
2) Chung
Update (7/6/07):
1) Credit status issue: CTOS officials to be charged.
2) CTOS Directors, Secretaries Facing 85 Charges Under Companies Act.

Altantuya Murder Trial: I Was Confined, Threatened And Tortured By Cops - Rohaniza

Lance Corporal Rohaniza Roslan told the murder trial of Mongolian beauty Altantuya Shaariibuu that she was confined, threatened and tortured by police before recording her cautioned statement at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman, reports Bernama.

Rohaniza, 29, the girlfriend of Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, the first accused in the widely-followed murder trial, said this when asked by the court to clarify on the five material contradictions in her testimony during examination-in-chief yesterday from her cautioned statement given to police on Nov 16 last year.

Rohaniza, the seventh prosecution witness, said her cautioned statement to the police was not true as it was made under duress. She also claimed the police had recorded her statement on matters which she did not mention. Rohaniza, who is attached to the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters, was testifying on the 12th day of the high-profile murder trial.

Earlier, Rohaniza testified that one week before the trial began she received a phone call from a mysterious caller threatening to shoot her if she becomes a witness in the trial. She said the threat came from a Malay man on June 11. However, she could not recognise the caller's voice and his telephone number registered on the screen of her handphone. "The caller said don't be a witness or you'll be shot," said Rohaniza.

Following the life-threatening call and worried over her safety, Rohaniza said she lodged a police report on the same day.

***** What the hell is going on? Who are the prosecution team prosecuting? Or are they actually defending someone in this trial? On whose behalf was this woman confined and 'tortured' and for whose sake was she issued death threats? Who gains if she doesn't tell the truth in court? Who, who who?

Ask Najib and he'll scream "SUBJUDICE!!" Whoever wins or loses, our reputation as a country, our rule of law as well as the justice system are all taking a royal beating. Shameful!
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Najib Will Not Issue Statement On Altantuya Murder Case

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will not issue any statement on the claim by a witness linking the picture of the deputy prime minister in the on-going murder trial of a Mongolian model, Altantuya Shaariibuu, at the Shah Alam High Court as it could be subjudice to the case.

His press secretary Datuk Tengku Sarifuddin Tengku Ahmad, however, said Najib was maintaining his statements made several times before that he had never met or known Altantuya, 28, and was not involved in the case.

"I wish to make it clear that the deputy prime minister had on several occasions when interviewed by the media previously and during the Ijok by-election had said that he had never met and known Altantuya and was not involved in the case.

"As such, the issue over the picture does not arise.

"This brief clarification is made because media reports on yesterday's proceedings of the court case have given rise to various views and statements by certain parties that could affect public opinion on the deputy prime minister," Tengku Sarifuddin said in a statement to Bernama today.

In the high-profile murder trial yesterday, Altantuya's cousin, Burmaa Oyunchimeg, 26, told the court that she had seen a picture of Altantuya having a meal in the same table with political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, 46, and a Malaysian government official who is known by the name of "Najib Razak" and several others.

Burmaa, also known as Amy, said Altantuya showed her the picture when they were in Hong Kong after the Mongolian beauty returned from France.

Replying to lawyer Karpal Singh, who is holding a watching brief for Altantuya's family, Burmaa, the sixth prosecution witness, said Altantuya mentioned that the Malaysian government official's name was Najib Razak and she could remember the name because it was similar to Abdul Razak's.

However, the picture in question was not shown in court.

When campaigning in the Ijok state by-election in April, Najib had repeatedly denied his involvement in the Mongolian model's case and had also chided the opposition for resorting to character assassination strategy by making wild accusations including linking him to the Altantuya's case.

Najib said all parties including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi knew the actual situation.

Following is the full statement by Tengku Sarifuddin to Bernama:

1. I wish to refer to today's media reports on a witness' testimony on a picture (not shown in court) of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the murder trial of Mongolian model Altantuya.

2. Since the trial is in progress and any statement might be subjudice to the case, it is not appropriate for the deputy prime minister to comment on the matter.

3. Nevertheless, In wish to clarify that the deputy prime minister had on several occasions when interviewed by the media before and during the Ijok by-election had stated that he had never met or known the victim and was not involved in the case. As such, the issue over the picture does not arise.

4. The brief clarification is made because media reports on yesterday's court proceedings have given rise to various views and statements by certain parties that could affect public opinion on the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib.

Datuk Tengku Sarifuddin Tengku Ahmad

Press Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister

***** Frankly after such a clarification I really don't know what to think! Was he or was he not involved? I'm referring to Najib of course. What is your opinion?
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Witness Claims Altantuya Married Razak Baginda In Hong Kong

Interesting update on the Altantuya murder trial from Bernama.

Private investigator Ang Beng Chong told the High Court here Wednesday that Altantuya Shaariibuu married Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda in Hong Kong two years before her death.

Ang, 56, said this was told to him by the part-time Mongolian model but she never showed any evidence or document on the marriage. He was testifying as the prosecution's fifth witness in the high-profile murder trial which entered its eighth day Wednesday.

When asked by Abdul Razak's counsel K.K. Wong during cross-examination whether he knew that under Malaysia's Islamic law that Muslims could only marry Muslims, Ang said he knew. However, when asked what was Altantuya's religion, he said he did not know.

Ang said he was hired by Altantuya in September 2006 to inform her whether Abdul Razak was home in Malaysia or abroad. He admitted that the police report made by Altantuya's cousin, Namiraa Gerelmaa was taken from information he gathered while working for Altantuya.

Abdul Razak, 46, is charged with abetting Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 31, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar 36, both from the police Special Action Squad in murdering Altantuya, 28, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20, 2006 at Lot 12843 and Lot 16735, Mukim Bukit Raja, Shah Alam.

The political analyst is accused of committing the offence in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur between 9.54am on Oct 18 and 9.45pm on Oct 19, 2006.
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Abdul Razak Gave Diamond-studded Gold Ring To Altantuya

Not THAT Diamond-studded Gold Ring
Interesting revelation in today's trial as reported by Bernama.

Uuriintuya Gal-Ochir, a friend of murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, said political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda presented Altantuya a diamond-studded gold ring as a gift.

Uuriintuya, 30, said she believed the ring was given by Abdul Razak because Altantuya herself told her that it was a gift from her boyfriend. Besides the ring, she also identified a pair of earrings, which was bought in Mongolia, and a Larmes-brand watch bought in Hong Kong as Altantuya's.

Uuriintuya was giving evidence when questioned by lawyer Karpal Singh, who is holding a watching brief for Altantuya's family and the Mongolian government, in the Altantuya murder trial at the Shah Alam High Court here.

The high-profile murder trial entered the seventh day today. In the dock is Abdul Razak, 46, who is charged with abetting Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 31, and Sirul Azhar, 35, both from the police special action squad, of murdering Altantuya, 28, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year at Lots 12843 and 16735 in Mukim Bukit Raja, Shah Alam. The political analyst is accused of abetting them in the murder.

Uuriintuya denied that she demanded money from Abdul Razak. "I also don't know whether Altantuya and her private investigator Ang Chong Beng demanded money from the political analyst," she said.

Cross-examined by Wong Kian Kheong, she disagreed to a suggestion by the Abdul Razak's counsel that she had run out of money after a week in Malaysia. Uuriintuya, who accompanied Altantuya to Malaysia on Oct 8 last year, admitted that despite being harassed and threatened by Abdul Razak's two private investigators and having lodged a police report on their disturbances, she, Altantuya and Altantuya's cousin, Namiraa Gerelmaa, still went to Abdul Razak's house on Oct 19.

She also said that she had never met Abdul Razak before Altantuya went missing after going to the political analyst's house on the night of Oct 19.

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Also in today's trial: Record Of Altantuya And Friends' Entry To M'sia Deleted - Uuriintuya.

Altantuya's Family Files RM100 Million Suit

Just received news via SMS alert about the above. According to it, Altantuya's family has filed a RM100 million civil suit against Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, Korporal Sirul Azhar Umar and Abdul Razak Baginda as well as the Malaysian government.

Meanwhile Bernama reports that the much awaited trial of the alleged killers of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu began at the Shah Alam High Court before Justice Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yassin at 9.23am this morning.

It was a charged atmosphere inside and outside the court with a large crowd having gathered as early as 6am to get a glimpse of the personalities involved.

The case has drawn international media attention because of the personalities involved, the circumstances reportedly leading to Altantuya's murder and the way she was killed.

Altnatuya, 28, is believed to have been shot and blown to bits with explosives in a jungle in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam last October. Only fragments her bones were recovered.

Her family members as well as those of the three accused and media representatives were among those who filled up the seats in the public gallery which can only accomodate about 50 people.

In the dock were two policemen from the Special Action Squad -- 30-year-old C/Insp Azilah Hadri and Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar, 35, and political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 46.

The policemen are alleged to have murdered Altantuya, 28, at Lot 12843 and Lot 16735, Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20, last year.

Abdul Razak is charged with abetting the policemen in the murder at Bangunan Getah Asli in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18.

If convicted, all three face the death penalty.

***** The latest news also has it that the case has been postponed to the 18th of June in order to enable a new prosecution team to take over.
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UPDATE: Altantuya trial postponed, family sues govt and accused
Earlier related post: What Really Happened To Altantuya?
Update (6/14/07): Don't Postpone My Daughter's Murder Trial Again - Shaariibuu

Altantuya Case: Judge Blocks Access To Prosecution Witnesses' Statements Before Trial

The three accused facing charges relating to the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu failed in their attempt in the High Court here today to gain access to the prosecution witnesses' statements before the commencement of the trial on Monday.

Justice Mohamed Zaki Yassin rejected their application on the ground that there was no provision in the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and Evidence Act that gives an accused person the right to inspect the statements recorded from witnesses by the police under Section 112 of the CPC.

He said he was bound by a Federal Court decision in the case of Husdi v PP (1979) MLJ 80 (Husdi No 1) that witnesses statements were absolute privileged documents and the defence did not have the right of access to the statements.

However, it was a win-win situation as the judge also held that the defence had the privilege, as held in the same case, to obtain the witnesses' statements only after the witnesses had testified in the trial, for the purpose of impeaching the witnesses.

The trial will proceed on Monday although counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, representing Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, will challenge today's decision in the Court of Appeal. He did not ask the court to stay the proceedings pending the disposal of his appeal.

Kpl Sirul Azhar, 35, had filed a formal application seeking a court order to compel the prosecution to provide them with the 112 witnesses statements and his application was supported by Chief Insp Azilah Hadri, 30, and political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 46.

Azilah's newly-appointed lawyer, Hazman Ahmad, who replaced counsel Zulkefli Noordin, informed the court that they were supporting Sirul Azhar's application.

Azilah and Sirul Azhar were charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, in Lot 12843 and Lot 16735, Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year. Abdul Razak is charged with abetting the policemen from the Special Force Unit to commit the murder at Bangunan Getah Asli in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18 last year.

All three face the death penalty if convicted.

Altantuya's remains, blown to bits with explosives, were found in a forest area in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam, on Nov 7 last year.

In his oral judgment, Mohamed Zaki said the court should not apply the common law of England and Wales which allowed accused persons to inspect police statements as there was already a provision in Malaysia governing that issue and no lacuna in Malaysia with regard to supply of document.

Therefore, the judge said, he found it unnecessary to make any reference to the England and Brunei cases referred to by counsel Kamarul Hisham who had urged the court to adopt the common law of England and Wales on the disclosure of statements to the accused.

"I can find no provision which can give the right to the accused to inspect the witnesses' statements. It doesn't matter that there are witnesses who are not potential to testify for or against the accused. The prosecution has no duty to supply the witnesses statements to the defence. I am of the view that it is undesirable for the prosecution to provide witnesses' statements to the defence as there is a real danger of tampering of witnesses," he said.

Kamarul Hisham told reporters that he would invoke their right to ask the court to examine the 112 witnesses statements and if there was contradiction (with their oral evidence in court) he would apply for the statements to be supplied to the defence to impeach the witnesses.

In his application, Sirul Azhar had asked the prosecution to provide him with the autopsy report, chemist reports, dental report, radiologist examination report and laboratory report and was supplied with the documents except for the 112 witneses statements which the prosecution refused to disclose to the defence.

All the accused were not present in court. (Bernama)
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What Killed Anna Nicole Smith?

A Forensic Psychiatrist, Dr Michael Welner, M.D. analyzes what may have happened and why?

What are the possible causes of death?

Accident, suicide or homicide. At this early stage, no one can jump to conclusions. However, it would be professionally irresponsible to not consider all three possibilities.

What is the importance of an autopsy here?

An autopsy will examine for causes of sudden death, such as heart disease, or toxicology signs of overdose, or poisoning.

In a death investigation such as this, will an autopsy yield the answers?

Not necessarily. Even if Anna Nicole Smith is found to have a toxic combination of substances in her system, the possibilities of such an event happening still include accident, homicide and suicide.

What, then, can an autopsy definitively clear up?

If Anna Nicole Smith had cardiac disease severe enough to associate with a fatal heart stoppage, heart disease may be seen. If she ingested a poison, or an exceptionally high dosage of something, toxicology analysis will show that. Even then, such a finding of excess toxin or drug only eliminates accident as a cause of death. One would still need to pursue the probability of suicide versus homicide.

Read the entire report HERE
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Officers Responsible For Shoddy Police Probes May Get The Boot. But Transfer The Perak CPO First.

Police investigating officers who do a shoddy job leading to their cases getting thrown out by the courts risk being fired from the force, said Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum.

"We will not compromise with officers who fail to conduct proper investigations into murder cases," he told reporters after opening a seminar for directors and senior management in the security industry here today.

He said this when asked to comment on the botched investigation into the murder of a 21-year-old engineering student in 2003 which led to the case to be thrown out by the Ipoh High Court last Wednesday (Jan 24).

Five suspects in the case, one of them the son of a former Ipoh Mayor, were acquitted without their defence being called. Mohd Johari said the investigating officers in the case would be brought before the Police's Disciplinary Board if found to have failed in carrying out their duties properly.

"It is pathetic ... this is not the first high profile murder case to be thrown out of court ... I want Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to submit a report on it to the ministry as soon as possible," he added, reports Bernama.

He said he would have a special meeting with Musa and other Bukit Aman senior directors next Wednesday (Jan 31) to discuss and identify weaknesses in the handling of high profile murder cases. "I want to know if elements like corruption are hampering investigations," he added.

Meanwhile, Musa, when met at the World Customs Day celebrations in the Customs Complex in Kelana Jaya here, said police were still investigating the matter (the case that was thrown out in Ipoh) including on claims that the investigating officer had only just joined the force when entrusted with the job.

"This is a serious matter, so give us time to investigate properly," he added. (TheSun)

***** The IGP is to be commended for the fast reaction to this shameful episode and miscarriage of justice. However the number one cop in the state, Perak police chief SAC I Datuk Abdul Aziz Bulat should be the first one to be removed. At the very least he should be transferred to Bukit Aman for an extended period as a desk-bound pen pusher.

Firstly he should have taken direct responsibility for the dereliction of duty by his subordinates. Secondly he should not have too hastily, without thinking supported his officers by saying that "the police had done all they could to ensure a strong prosecution case." That statement totally exposed him as an untruthful and uncaring person out only to protect the hide of his pegawai2 and himself while not at all concerned about the grave injustice done to the deceased and his family. His subsequent statements in support of his men while good for morale, sets a very bad precedent when senior officials like him appear to condone criminal negligence.

Finally and more importantly it is appalling that such a senior police official thought it fit to cry "unfair remarks," while publicly disagreeing and taking issue with the judge who passed the strictures! His impulsive behaviour is unbecoming of the high office he currently occupies and matters could turn really ugly if the learned judge were to exercise his considerable judicial muscle and cite him for contempt. Abdul Aziz Bulat has to go.
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