AUSTRALIA will not extradite convicted murderer and former police officer Sirul Azhar Umar unless the death penalty is abolished in Malaysia, said lawyer Ramkarpal Singh.

After today’s first day of hearing of a RM100 million suit filed by the family of slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu against the government at the Shah Alam High Court, the lead counsel for the family told reporters that Australia won’t agree even with the current moratorium on capital punishment.   

“Even if there is a moratorium, I don’t think the Australian government will send him back as long as the death penalty is still in existence.

“Until and unless the death penalty, in drug cases at least, is repealed, (only) then the Australian government will extradite him and will have no reason to keep him there further.

“So, even if there is a moratorium, it wouldn’t make a difference as far as the Australians are concerned,” he said. 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong had earlier said the decision to abolish the death penalty was a collective decision of the cabinet.

The bill to scrap the death penalty is expected to be tabled in the next Parliament sitting, which will convene on March 11.

A moratorium on all executions has also been imposed.

Altantuya’s father Shaariibuu Setev and other family members alleged there was a conspiracy in her murder. The family is seeking damages and dependency claims.

Fragments of Altantuya’s bones were found in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam in October 2006. Police later ascertained that her body was blown up with military-grade C4 explosives. 

Arms broker Abdul Razak Baginda was acquitted in October 2008 while police chief inspector Azilah Hadri and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar were convicted the following year. Sirul later fled to Australia. – January 22, 2019.