In teleconference, Sirul clams up on Altantuya murder, says out of respect for Australia
(Malay Mail Online) – A second phone attempt to Sirul Azhar Omar in a high security Australian detention centre proved successful today but the man wanted by Malaysia for the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu firmly kept his lips sealed during the teleconference, saying he was doing so to respect Canberra’s protection.
In a delayed teleconference organised by PAS, the former police commando also said that he would try to issue a statement on the murder when “it is suitable”.
“I am very thankful to the Australian government for giving me full protection, providing me with a safe and comfortable lodging,” Sirul said in a phone call with PAS information chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar.
“I fully respect the Australian government, and I do not wish to make a statement at this moment,” he added in the call that lasted roughly three minutes.
A scheduled teleconference with Sirul that promised an explosive exposé earlier this morning had failed after 15 phone calls from the organiser PAS landed in the former policeman’s voicemail.
A scheduled teleconference with Sirul that promised an explosive exposé earlier this morning had failed after 15 phone calls from the organiser PAS landed in the former policeman’s voicemail.
Mahfuz has since claimed that there was no reception on his mobile phone, but he did not explain why PAS did not try other forms of communications such as using a land line or internet calls.
It was also unclear why Sirul had decided to keep mum today, as he has been reported to be mulling a tell-all on why he and another former colleague with the Special Action Unit Azilah Hadri shot dead the Mongolian model and blew up her body with explosives.
Yesterday, Malay Mail Online reported migration expert Robert Chelliah’s warning to PAS that the media conference it is arranging will harm Sirul’s opportunity to seek political asylum in Australia.
Instead of the ad-hoc teleconference that the Islamist party has tentatively scheduled for Monday, Robert said Sirul must instead formalise the details he will supposedly reveal about the 2006 murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu in a sworn affidavit.
Sirul and Azilah were charged with the murder of 28-year-old Altantuya in 2006 and convicted in 2009.
They were freed after the appellate court acquitted them in 2013, but the Federal Court reversed the acquittal last month and sent them back to hang, marking the end to the eight-year saga.
Sirul was a no-show during the Federal Court hearing and it was later revealed that he is in Australia.
Malaysia has been seeking to extradite him home to face his sentencing.
He is currently held at a maximum security detention centre as Australia’s laws forbid its government from sending criminals to countries that have the death penalty.
