Abdul Razak freed on bail
Malaysiakini.com
Nov 23, 2006

Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda today pleaded not guilty for abetting in the gristly murder of Mongolian beauty Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Abdul Razak, 46, entered the plea at the Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning. His trial will begin on Dec 14 at the Shah Alam High Court.

He faces the death penalty if found guilty.

He was however allowed bail on a RM1 million bond with two sureties without security. His siblings stood as bailors.

Abdul Razak’s health condition was pivotal in successfully getting the bail. After his arrest on Nov 7, he has been a frequent visitor to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for lung infection and asthma.

The prominent head of a local think tank was charged under Section 149 of the Penal Code and read together with Section 302 of the same code which carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction. 

The remains of 28-year-old Altantuya was found in a secondary jungle in Shah Alam early this month. It was reported that she was blown up by explosives.

The victim's father, Shaariibuu Setev, said he was unhappy with the High Court judge's decision.

"This is an international case, it is a brutal murder," Setev said at the court. "It was all talking about releasing him, all about his family and his background," he said.

"If it continues this way, it is not about the brutal murder case any more, it will be talking about somebody's reputation. I hope justice will be served." 

Calm in court

Abdul Razak is alleged to have abetted with chief inspector Azilah Hadri, 30 and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 35, to commit the offence.

He was alleged to have conspired with the two policemen to kill Altantuya between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18 at the 10th floor of Bangunan Getah Asli at Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur.

Abdul Razak’s office is located in that address.

In the court today, Abdul Razak said he understood the charges before pleading innocent.

Bernama reported that he did not show much reaction and remained calm throughout the proceeding.

He was supported by a contingent of friends and family members, showed obvious signs of relief after bail was granted.

"I think the what the judge did was brilliant," his wife Mazlinda Makhzan said.

Judge Abdul Kadir Musa agreed to a prosecution request for Abdul Razak's case to be tried alongside that of the two policemen from Dec 14.

The two policemen too have separately been charged with the murder and both face the death penalty if convicted. They have not entered a plea yet.

The murder caused an uproar in the country for the manner Antantuya was brutally killed, especially when explosives which are only available to the security forces were reportedly used.

It caused further shock when Abdul Razak was arrested as he was a well-known personality with good political connections. His close links with deputy premier Najib Abdul Razak is well-chronicled.
    
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