Azilah awaits pardon decision at Sungai Buloh prison

The former police officer was convicted with ex-colleague Sirul Azhar Umar for the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2016.

Former police officer Azilah Hadri is awaiting a decision from the state pardon board over his death sentence for the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2016.

Azilah, who was convicted with former colleague Sirul Azhar Umar, is the last prisoner on death row at Sungai Buloh prison, according to a Utusan Malaysia report.

“He (Azilah) is the final prisoner at Sungai Buloh prison after being transferred there (from Kajang prison last September),” the Malay daily quoted a source as saying.

Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain told Bernama that discussions would be held on the possibility of Sirul’s repatriation from Australia following his release from detention in Sydney.

Razarudin said the Malaysian police had officers in Australia “and can actually see Sirul because he is free”.

Meanwhile, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said a government decision might be made soon on seeking Sirul’s repatriation.

Sirul fled to Australia in 2006 and sought asylum there before the death sentence was confirmed by the Federal Court in 2015. Azilah has been on death row since then.

Razarudin said the application for Sirul’s repatriation would be handled by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, as the matter involves the Malaysian and Australian governments.

Sirul’s release from Australian immigration custody followed a ruling by the Australian High Court on Nov 8 that non-citizen detainees who cannot be deported can no longer be detained indefinitely by immigration authorities.

Malaysia has sought Sirul’s deportation from Australia on the basis that he had been convicted and sentenced and was the subject of an arrest warrant.

Australia has said its law forbids the deportation of anyone who faces the death penalty in their home country.

However, Malaysia has since abolished the mandatory death penalty and the reviews of those sentenced to death are being handled by the Federal Court.