Altantuya trial postponed, family sues govt and accused

news on 04.06.2007

PETALING JAYA: The Shah Alam High Court has postponed the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial to June 18 to allow the new prosecution team time to prepare its case.

In the meantime, her family has filed an RM100mil civil suit against the Government of Malaysia as well as the three defendants in her murder trial which began Monday. The three include policemen Cif Inspektor Azilah Hadri, 31, and Koperal Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, who are charged with committing the murder in Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year.

The third is political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, 47, who is accused of abetting the two Unit Tindakan Khas (special action force) personnel, allegedly committed his offence at the Bangunan Getah Asli in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18 last year.

The trial has garnered much attention in local and foreign media because of Abdul Razak's policital connections as well as the gruesome manner in which the 28-year-old Altantuya was killed. The Monggolian beauty was apparently blown up with explosives after having been shot dead. Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin is presiding over the case. The prosecutors are head of the Civil Division in the Attorney-General's Chambers Tun Majid Tun Hamzah and Deputy Public Prosecutor M. Kurup. Veteran lawyer Karpal Singh is holding a watching brief for Altantuya’s family.

Teacher pleads guilty to molesting nine-year-old student

KUALA LUMPUR: A jawi teacher pleaded guilty in a magistrate's court here to molesting a nine-year-old pupil in a religious school classroom last year.

Husin Rohimi, 36, from Kodiang in Kedah, was accused of committing the offence at a Year Two classroom of a school here at 10.30am on Nov 10.

He was charged under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 10 years' jail or a fine or whipping or any two such punishments upon conviction.

The girl's mother had lodged a police report over the molestation on May 25 this year.

A prosecuting officer asked the court to set bail at RM6,000 in one surety and order that the accused would not get any closer to the victim or her family members.

Pleading for a lower bail, Husin said he was only earning RM979 per month from his job.

He said he had to support his three children.

"My youngest child is admitted at Instititut Jantung Negara, madam," he said adding that his wife was present in court to be his bailor.

Magistrate Azniza Mohd Ali granted him to be released on a RM4,000 bail in one surety and set July 23 for sentencing.

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