Distressing news for those who wanted to see ex-police commando Sirul Azhar Umar brought back to Malaysia to face justice: he’s been released by Australian authorities after a brief detention, losing only his passport in the process.
The convicted murderer of Mongolian model and interpreter Altantuya Shariibuu was placed under arrest in Brisbane after he was listed under INTERPOL’s red list, but an application by Putrajaya for him to be extradited back to Malaysia to face the death penalty was apparently not granted.
An unnamed Wisma Putra source told the New Straits TImes that despite having released him, Australian authorities were monitoring Sirul’s movements.
“His passport is being held, but Australian Immigration released him on certain conditions, including having to come forward if required by the authorities there,” the source said.
Australia is adamantly against the death penalty for any crime, and its law prohibits the extradition of any individual to face the death penalty outside its borders.
Sirul and former chief inspector Azilah Hadri were found guilty of commiting the murder of Altantuya Shariibuu in 2006.
After being acquitted by the Court of Appeal in 2013, the Federal Court reversed the judgment and sentenced them to death by hanging last week.
However, Sirul was not present at the Federal Court hearing, and was later found to have been in Australia, unable to return to Malaysia due to a lack of funds.
More on CoconutsKL:
Convicted Altantuya murderer Sirul arrested in Brisbane
It’s going to be “almost impossible” to extradite Sirul from Australia for the Altantuya murder
