KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia will reopen an investigation into the murder of a Mongolian model in 2006, media reported on Thursday quoting the country’s police chief, in a case that could spell more trouble for former premier Najib Razak.

Two former police officers, who were serving as members of Najib’s personal security detail at the time of the murder, were sentenced to death for the crime.

Najib, who was defeated in an election last month after nearly a decade in power, has denied knowing the woman, but the question of who ordered the killing has never been answered.

“I can confirm we are reopening investigations,” Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said, adding that a new police report submitted by the model’s father on Wednesday was one reason for the fresh probe into the murder case.

Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, was killed and blown up with military grade explosives in a forest near Kuala Lumpur.

Her father Setev Shaariibuu on Wednesday met with Malaysia’s new attorney-general Tommy Thomas and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who defeated the scandal-tainted Najib in a stunning election upset last month.

Civil society groups have alleged Altantuya’s murder was linked to her role as an interpreter for Abdul Razak Baginda, a former associate of Najib, in Malaysia’s purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines from French shipbuilding giant DCNS in 2002.

Abdul Razak, who said he had had an affair with Altantuya, was charged with abetment in her murder. He was acquitted in 2008.

One of the officers found guilty of her murder, Sirul Azhar Uma, fled to Australia shortly before his sentence was handed down. Sirul said last month he would cooperate with any new investigation into the murder if he was given a full pardon.

Malaysia is considering revoking his death sentence to facilitate his extradition.

Asked for comment on the new developments on Thursday, a spokesman for Australia’s Attorney-General said it does not comment on extradition requests.

Asked about the Altantuya case in an interview with Reuters this week, Najib said: “I’m on record to have sworn in a mosque in the name of Allah that I had nothing to do with the case.

“I still maintain that I only knew she died 4-5 days after the death...that was the first time I heard about her. There is no evidence to show I ever knew her.”

Mahathir is seeking to lay multiple charges against Najib for his alleged role in looting billions from state-run fund 1MDB and blames him for widespread corruption in the previous government. Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing.</s>KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia will reopen an investigation into the murder of a Mongolian model in 2006, the Star newspaper reported on its website on Thursday quoting the police chief in a case that could spell more trouble for former premier Najib Razak.

Two former police officers were sentenced to death for the crime but reports have alleged that the officers served as bodyguards for former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who was deputy prime minister at the time of the killing.

"I can confirm we are reopening investigations," Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun told The Star.

Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, was killed and blown up with military grade explosives in a forest near Kuala Lumpur. Najib has denied knowing the woman.</s>The Malaysian police are set to reopen an investigation into the murder of a Mongolian model in 2006, in a politically charged case that could add to the woes of Najib Razak, the beleaguered former prime minister.

Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, was killed and blown up with military grade explosives in a forest near the capital, Kuala Lumpur, after being kidnapped late at night outside the home of her alleged lover Abdul Razak Baginda - a defence analyst who advised Mr Najib between 2000 and 2008.

Two former police officers, Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri, were sentenced to death for the crime but reports have alleged that they served as bodyguards for Mr Najib, who was deputy prime minister at the time of her gruesome death.

Sirul fled to Australia to seek asylum and is currently being held at a detention centre in Sydney.</s>Malaysian police have reopened an investigation into the grisly murder of a young Mongolian woman in 2006 which has been linked to the country’s ousted leader, reports said on Friday.

Altantuya Shaariibuu was shot dead and her body blown up with military-grade plastic explosives near Kuala Lumpur.

The murder was the most shocking aspect in a scandal involving allegations that an associate of recently toppled prime minister Najib Razak arranged huge kickbacks for the purchase of French submarines in 2002.

The case captivated Malaysia for years and there have long been allegations that Najib – defence minister at the time of the deal – and his wife Rosmah Mansor were involved. They have steadfastly denied the claims.

Two government bodyguards were convicted of the killing and sentenced to death. One subsequently fled to Australia, where he is in detention, and maintains he was ordered by “important people” to carry out the murder.

Altantuya’s father visited Malaysia this week. He met new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who backed reopening the investigation, and lodged a fresh police report about the murder.

“I can confirm we are reopening investigations,” national police chief Mohamad Fuzi Harun was cited as saying by newspaper. “We will conduct our duties without fear or favour.”

Eric Paulsen, head of local rights group Lawyers for Liberty, said Najib should be among the new witnesses to be interviewed by the police.

“We want to know why Altantuya was killed and who ordered her killing,” he said.

Malaysians broke the six-decade stranglehold on power of Najib’s coalition at elections last month, and voted in a reformist alliance headed by 92-year-old Mahathir.

Altantuya was the mistress of Najib’s associate, Abdul Razak Baginda, and was alleged to have demanded a cut in the submarine deal for translating during negotiations.

Abdul Razak was cleared in 2008 of abetting the murder.

The bodyguard who fled to Australia, Sirul Azhar Umar, recently said he is willing to assist any new government investigation into the case, a potential breakthrough.</s>Malaysia will reopen the investigation into the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, a case that has cast a shadow over the government of former prime minister Najib Razak for more than a decade.

In June 2006, a pregnant Altantuya was taken to a forest and shot twice in the head and then her body blown up with explosives. Two bodyguards working for Najib, Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar, were convicted of the murder and sent to jail in 2008, but a neither a motive for the crime, nor who ordered the killing, was ever investigated.

“I can confirm we are reopening investigations,” inspector-general of police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said on Friday. He confirmed that a new police report submitted by Altantuya’s father on Wednesday was one reason for the new investigation.

Altantuya had been the lover of Abdul Razak Baginda, a known associate of Najib, and many believe that her involvement in a defence deal to purchase two French Scorpene submarines may have led to her death. Both Baginda and Najib were alleged to have taken multi-million dollar backhanders for the deal, which they both deny.

Najib has always denied ever even meeting Altantuya and Baginda was cleared of all charges for abetting her murder. Asked about the Altantuya case this week, Najib said: “I’m on record to have sworn in a mosque in the name of Allah that I had nothing to do with the case. I still maintain that I only knew she died four, five days after the death … that was the first time I heard about her. There is no evidence to show I ever knew her.”

On Wednesday, Altantuya’s father, Steve Shaariibuu, submitted a police report about her death, citing new evidence. He called for investigation into why Najib’s aide, Musa Shafri, was never called as a witness in the original trial. Musa was Azilah and Sirul’s boss and it is alleged he gave them the direct order to carry out her killing.

“I believe that if not for Musa, Azilah and Sirul would not have come to Razak’s house that day and taken my daughter away and she would very likely still be alive today,” said Shaariibuu in the police report.

“Musa therefore is a very crucial witness as he would be able to provide information as to who instructed him to secure Azilah and Sirul’s said attendance and for what purpose.”

Sirul is in detention in Australia, after he fled Malaysia while out on bail. He said recently he would comply with a new investigation into Altantuya’s death and sources told the Guardian that Australian authorities have given the green light to deport Sirul back to Malaysia if he is treated fairly. Malaysia have confirmed it is considering dropping the death penalty charges against Sirul so he can be extradited.</s>KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has accused “the opposition", which won the recent general election, of “recycling” the case of the murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu and suggesting that some people are trying to implicate him.

In a post on his official blog NajibRazak.com under the heading The Truth, Najib said he was not involved.

“I am not involved and do not know anything about it. The court has determined who was guilty of the murder. That should be the end of the story,” said Najib in the post which has no date on it.

“What is important is that the judgment brings justice to everyone, most importantly to the family of the victim, to the accused and even to me,” Najib added.

Najib accused the current Pakatan Harapan (PH) government of engaging in a “psy-war game” to influence public perception of him, including superimposing a photo of him dining with Altantuya.

“In this era of social media, these things go viral uncontrollably, including the superimposed photo,” he said.

Altantuya, 28, was shot dead and her body was blown up by military-grade explosives in Shah Alam in 2006.

She was the lover of political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, who is a friend and associate of Najib, and who acted as his advisor from 2000 to 2008.

Altantuya was forcibly taken from outside the analyst's home in 2006 by two policemen, Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri. Both men were once bodyguards of Najib.

The two officers were found guilty and sentenced to death in 2015 for Altantuya’s murder. Razak was charged with abetment in her murder but was freed.

“Because the two bodyguards had worked for me, and Razak Baginda was a friend and associate, they tried to connect the dots to me. Razak Baginda has openly admitted to the relationship with Altantuya but in no way did I have any knowledge of it,” said Najib.

“The people must take into account that in politics, many issues keep being played up, and this is one of them. It became hot at a time when I was PM in waiting and the opposition needed a way to prevent me from advancing,” said Najib.

Altantuya’s father, Setev Shaariibuu was in Kuala Lumpur this week and met with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Wednesday (Jun 20) to seek justice for her murder nearly 12 years ago.

Dr Mahathir gave his support to reopening the case, which was followed by Inspector-General of Police Fuzi Harun announcing that investigations are recommencing.

During his latest visit, Shaariibuu said the previous government tried to prevent the truth from emerging.

"I am full of hope that the new government will do everything under its power to render justice and bring an end to grief and suffering of my family," said Shaariibuu who left Malaysia on Thursday (Jun 21).

Najib said it was “disturbing” to see Altantuya’s case being brought up again.

“Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the former PM, received the full investigation report from the police and has personally confirmed that I am not involved,” said Najib.

“I find it disturbing that this issue is being brought up once again. We all know that if veteran leaders insist on bringing it up, even in passing, it would automatically cause the issue to be resurrected once again,” said Najib.</s>KUALA LUMPUR: The father of murdered Mongolian model Àltantuya Shaariibuu lodged a police report on Wednesday (Jun 20) to jumpstart the process of reopening investigations into the case, nearly 12 years after she was killed in Malaysia.

"I, Shaariibuu Setev make this report for the purpose of investigations being commenced by the police on the murder of my daughter Altantuya Shhariibuu on 19.10.2006," said Shaariibuu in the police report.

"Throughout the said murder trial, no evidence was led by the prosecution as to who ordered my daughter's murder or the motive behind it, although I believe that this was relevant to the case."

His lawyer, Ramkarpal Singh, said the report is a first step in reopening the case.

"I think there is a very good chance of that happening within the next three to four months," Ramkarpal told reporters outside the Dang Wangi police station in Kuala Lumpur.

Altantuya, 28, was shot dead and her body blown up by military-grade C4 explosives in Shah Alam in 2006.

She left behind two sons, one of them is disabled and bedridden.

Two policemen, Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri, who were former bodyguards of former prime minister Najib Razak, were found guilty and sentenced to death in 2015.

Azilah is currently on death row at Kajang prison, while Sirul fled to Australia before sentencing and is being held in an Australian immigration detention centre.

On Wednesday, lawyer Ramkarpal said the former aide-de-camp of Mr Najib, Musa Safri, was named as a key witness in the police report filed by Altantuya’s father.

"Musa Safri, he's certainly a very crucial witness. This is something the police must take into account. Why did the prosecution not call him in the past? It's a glaring omission on his (prosecutor's) part," said Ramkarpal.

"He is important because according to the prosecution's criminal case, he played a very significant role. He should be called up to explain what the role was," said Ramkarpal.

Altantuya was said to be the lover of Abdul Razak Baginda - a defence analyst who advised Mr Najib between 2000 and 2008 when he was then the defence minister.

Razak was charged with abetment in the murder, but was freed.

Shaariibuu, who came to Malaysia to seek a fresh probe into his daughter’s murder, will meet Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at 5pm on Wednesday in Putrajaya to discuss the possibility of convening a Royal Commission of Inquiry into her death.</s>KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will reopen an investigation into the murder of a Mongolian model in 2006, media reported on Thursday quoting the country’s police chief, in a case that could spell more trouble for former premier Najib Razak.

Two former police officers, who were serving as members of Najib’s personal security detail at the time of the murder, were sentenced to death for the crime. Najib, who was defeated in an election last month after nearly a decade in power, has denied knowing the woman, but the question of who ordered the killing has never been answered.

“I can confirm we are reopening investigations,” Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said, adding that a new police report submitted by the model’s father on Wednesday was one reason for the fresh probe into the murder case.

Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, was killed and blown up with military grade explosives in a forest near Kuala Lumpur. Her father Setev Shaariibuu on Wednesday met with Malaysia’s new attorney-general Tommy Thomas and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who defeated the scandal-tainted Najib in a stunning election upset last month.

Najib’s 1MDB denials unbelievable, says Malaysia’s Mahathir: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir poured scorn over his predecessor Najib Razak on Thursday for denying knowing whether millions of dollars from scandal-plagued state fund 1MDB had been put in his personal bank account.

Voters, fuelled by anger over the multi-billion dollar scandal at 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and rising living costs, dumped Najib and his long-ruling coalition in a general election last month.

The new government led by 92-year-old Mahathir has relaunched investigations into where 1MDB’s money went. In his first sit-down interview since losing the election, Najib told Reuters on Tuesday that he should not be blamed for the scandal at 1MDB and that he knew nothing about money from the state fund appearing in his personal account.</s>KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police are reopening investigations into the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, local media reported on Thursday (Jun 21).

Police Inspector-General Mohammad Fuzi Harun said that investigations will be based on an old police report and a new one that was lodged in Kuala Lumpur's Dang Wangi police station, the Star Online reported.

The result of the investigation will be submitted to the deputy public prosecutor, he said.

Kuala Lumpur's deputy police chief Zainuddin Yaacob had confirmed that Altantuya's father, Mr Setev Shaariibuu, lodged a police report with the Dang Wangi district police at around 12pm on Wednesday.

He later met Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who agreed that the case could be reopened if there were new evidence. 



"The police recorded a statement from the complainant (Shaariibuu) at 9am (on Jun 21), following which we will revert the investigation to the Office of the Deputy Public Prosecutor,” Zainuddin said. 



Altantuya was shot dead and her body blown up by military-grade C4 explosives in Shah Alam in 2006. She was said to be the lover of Abdul Razak Baginda, a political analyst who advised former Malaysia prime minister Najib Razak from 2000 to 2008.

Two policemen, Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri, who were once bodyguards of Najib, were found guilty and sentenced to death in 2015.

Azilah is currently on death row at Kajang prison while Sirul fled to Australia before the sentencing and is being held in a detention centre.</s>The former prime minister of Malaysia Najib Razak has denied any responsibility for the 1MDB scandal and claimed that the hundreds of designer handbags and millions of dollars in cash seized from his house were wedding gifts and campaign funds.

In his first interview after he dramatically lost the election in May, Najib protested his innocence and claimed that the board of the troubled 1MDB government fund had kept the multi-billion dollar embezzlement of the money from him.

Speaking to Reuters, Najib said: “If I knew there was going to be misappropriation of funds, if that was my knowledge, I would have acted.”

1MDB was a government fund set up by Najib in 2009 but in 2015 it was revealed that over $4bn had been embezzled out of the account and laundered around the world, funding yachts, Picasso paintings, property and films. Some $681m of the fund was deposited into Najib’s personal bank account. The total losses and theft of 1MDB money is now estimated to be $10bn.



While he was in power, an investigation Najib cleared of all wrongdoing, but since the newly elected government took office, a renewed prove into 1MDB has been key priority. Najib’s alleged role in the scandal has been at the centre of the investigation. Speaking on Tuesday, new prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said they had an “almost perfect case” against Najib and his allies and expected arrests to be made within months.

However, Najib maintained that his conscience was clean. “I’m not party to the yacht, the paintings ... I’ve never seen those paintings whatsoever,” he said.

“I was not aware of these purchases. This was done without my knowledge. I would never authorise 1MDB funds to be used for any of these items. I’ve been in government so long, I know what’s right and what’s wrong.” He added that he had no idea the money deposited into his personal bank account came from 1MDB.

He also washed his hands of any responsibility for the actions of Jho Low, a Malaysian businessman who was brought on as a consultant for 1MDB and was allegedly responsible for the embezzlement of the money into the US, funding, among other things, the Wolf of Wall Street film, which was produced by Najib’s stepson Riza Ahmad. The Malaysian authorities recently issued a warrant for Low’s arrest in connection with 1MDB.

“I didn’t give him instructions, but he volunteered to do certain things, which he thought would help 1MDB,” said Najib. “But whatever he did ultimately is the responsibility of the management and board.”

As part of the 1MDB investigation, multiple raids have been carried out on Najib’s property which saw 274 designer Birkin handbags seized as well as $29m in cash. The former prime minister maintained that the handbags were gifts to his wife and weddings presents given to his daughter. The cash, he added, was “genuine donations” from the election.

“As president of the party, I had to prepare for the elections, and elections are very expensive affairs,” he said. “Donations are made in cash in election times.”

Another case that has reared its head since Najib was toppled from power is the murder of Altantuya Shaaribuya, a Mongolian translator who was the lover of Najib’s close associate Razak Baginda. Claims of a government cover up of her death, with allegations she was Najib’s lover and had known about corrupt government defence deals, have hung over Malaysian politics for over a decade. There are now calls for the new government to re-open the case. However Najib reiterated his denial of any involvement.

“The Altantuya case has already been dealt with,” he said. “There is no evidence whatsoever that I ever met her, there are no records, no pictures or witness to say that I even knew her. It was subject to a proper trial and my name didn’t come up during the trial whatsoever.”
Malaysian authorities announce the reopening of investigations into the murder of a Mongolian model by two police officers associated with former Prime Minister Najib Razak. Who ordered the killing has never been determined.