Deputy home minister: Cops to investigate Dr M on aid offer to convicted killer

(Yahoo News) – Police will investigate Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad after the former prime minister purported to help a fugitive former police commando obtain asylum in Australia, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said today.

The deputy home minister was referring to a recent news programme in which Dr Mahathir disclosed he had spoken on the phone to Sirul Azhar Umar, convicted for the 2006 murder of a Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, but who fled to Australia last year to escape the death penalty.

Sirul is currently under detention by Australian immigration officials in Sydney.

“He has already made the statement publicly, so the police will investigate,” Nur Jazlan told reporters outside the Dewan Rakyat.

“We will investigate first and then see what offence has been committed, and then charge him if there is any wrongdoing,” he added.

Dr Mahathir was featured in an Australian news programme 60 Minutes last weekend and was asked if he had offered any inducement to Sirul to reveal the truth into Altantuya’s murder.

The 90-year-old former PM denied offering inducements.

Malaysia is unable to extradite Sirul as Australian laws prohibit its government from sending a person to another country for an offence punishable by death.

Azilah and Sirul were initially acquitted of murder in 2013 but the Federal Court reversed their acquittal and sent them to the gallows.