Malaysian Court Orders RM9.4 Million Payout in Altantuya Murder Case

A Malaysian court has ordered the government and a former political analyst to transfer RM9.4 million in damages to the family of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian woman who was brutally murdered in 2006. This decision comes after the High Court ruled that RM5 million in damages must be paid over her death within 30 days. The case, which has captured international attention, involves several high-profile figures, including Abdul Razak Baginda, who was once a close advisor to former prime minister Najib Razak.

Altantuya's family initiated a civil suit in 2007, seeking RM100 million in damages from two former policemen, Abdul Razak, and the Malaysian government. They claimed that her untimely death caused them immense mental shock and psychological trauma. In a decisive 2022 ruling, the Malaysian government, Abdul Razak, and two ex-members of the Special Actions Unit, Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar, were found jointly liable for Altantuya's murder.

Azilah and Sirul were convicted and sentenced to death for their role in the murder. However, in October last year, the Federal Court commuted Azilah's death sentence to a 40-year prison term with an additional 12 strokes of the cane. Meanwhile, Sirul remains in Australia after fleeing Malaysia while on bail in 2014.

Judicial Commissioner M Sumathi of the Shah Alam High Court emphasized that the government and Abdul Razak must deposit the payment into the stakeholder account of Altantuya's father Shaariibuu Setev's solicitors. The funds will only be released if the Malaysian government’s appeal on May 19 proves unsuccessful.

In light of the ongoing appeals by both the government and Abdul Razak against the 2022 decision, Altantuya's family sought court intervention to enforce the judgment. The court's recent order underscores the legal responsibility of the parties involved to comply with the ruling despite their pending appeals.

The murder case has been shrouded in controversy, partly due to Altantuya's alleged relationship with Abdul Razak, who served as an advisor to Najib Razak from 2000 to 2008. This connection added a layer of complexity to the case and drew widespread media coverage.