Malaysia’s death penalty changes clear way for murderer’s extradition

The family of a Mongolian translator murdered in Malaysia 18 years ago have asked the government to seek the extradition of one of her killers who fled to Australia.

Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, was shot in 2006 and her body blown up with military-grade explosives near Kuala Lumpur.

Two former police officers who were bodyguards to then-defence minister Najib Razak, who was Malaysia’s prime minister from 2009 to 2018, were convicted of her killing.

Lawyers acting for Altantuya’s family said on Monday that the Malaysian attorney general should request the extradition of Sirul Azhar Umar, who fled to Australia in 2015 and was held in immigration detention until his release last November.

The request follows the successful appeal this month of the other bodyguard convicted of Altantuya’s murder, Azilah Hadri, against his death sentence.

Malaysia’s federal court commuted Azilah’s sentence to 40 years in jail.