File picture of Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar (heads covered) during one of their court appearances in 2009. — Picture by Choo Choy MayKUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — Sirul Azhar Umar’s lawyer has dismissed as a hoax a message circulating on WhatsApp that his client will testify in Australian courts that Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor ordered the ex-police commando to murder Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Local daily The Star reported Sirul’s lawyer, Hasnal Rezua Merican, as saying that the message on the mobile messaging app cited a purported report by Australia’s Herald Sun that Rosmah had ordered the killing of the Mongolian woman for blackmailing her husband, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“I have checked with Sirul and he has absolutely no knowledge of saying any such thing or speaking with any journalist from the Herald Sun,” Hasnal was quoted saying.
“The message, which is being spread, is a hoax, and I believe that it originated in Malaysia and was meant for a local audience,” he added.
The Star reported the lawyer as saying that he could not find any such report by the Herald Sun. Malay Mail Online could not find the purported report either.
Sirul is being held at an immigration detention centre in Sydney when he went to Australia after he and former Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri were acquitted by the Court of Appeal in 2013 of murdering Altantuya.
The Federal Court reversed the acquittal last January and sentenced them to death by hanging.
Sirul has claimed that he had killed the 28-year-old Altantuya under orders, but did not mention who was behind such instructions.
Malaysia is seeking to extradite Sirul home to face his sentencing, but he remains in Sydney as Australian law forbids the government from sending criminals to countries that have the death penalty.
- themalaymailonline.com
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