AUSTRALIAN authorities have released Sirul Azah Umar, a Malaysian hitman facing the death penalty in his home country for the 2006 murder of a political operative’s mistress, media reports said.

Sirul, who was bodyguard to former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, was released from Villawood Detention Centre in Canberra yesterday afternoon and is currently staying with his son, who has lived quietly in Australia for more than a decade. 

The release follows an Australian High Court ruling that deemed indefinite detention unlawful. 

It was reported that the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur had informed Malaysian government officials about the High Court’s decision.

Sirul had fled to Australia after being sentenced to death for one of Malaysia’s most notorious crimes but had his asylum claim rejected in 2019, leading to his detention.

A Malaysian court has convicted him of killing model cum translator Altantuya Shaariibuu and blowing up her body with explosives. She had been pregnant at the time. Sirul has denied involvement in the murder, claiming it was ordered by an unnamed party. He has also admitted to taking part in her abduction but not in her murder.

Altantuya was the lover of Abdul Razak Baginda, a Malaysian political analyst and close associate of ex-Malaysian prime minister Najib.

At the time of the murder, Sirul had been a member of the police security detail for Najib, who was then defence minister. Also convicted with Sirul was Azilah Hadri, who is on death row in Malaysia.

Sirul’s son had in May appealed to the Australian government to grant political asylum to his father. He said he feared his father would be assassinated if he returned to Malaysia.

Australia-based immigration lawyer William Levingston confirmed his client had been released but declined to comment further.

It is understood that Sirul and others in his situation are required to provide authorities with contact details, including a phone number and email address, and a place of residence prior to release.

Under Australian law, the government will only deport Sirul if Malaysia abolishes the death penalty.

The Malaysian Insight has contacted the Malaysian authorities for a response. – November 12, 2023.