Sirul Azhar freed from Australian immigration detention
November 12, 2023
Sirul Azhar Umar, who was convicted of killing the Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu, was among dozens of individuals released from immigration detention after the high court's decision, on Wednesda
Sirul Azhar freed from Australian immigration detention
Sirul Azhar Umar, who was convicted of killing the Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu, was among dozens of individuals released from immigration detention after the high court's decision, on Wednesday. - Image file
SYDNEY : Former member of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Sirul Azhar Umar, who was convicted of killing a Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu, is among dozens of individuals released from immigration detention after the high court's decision, on Wednesday.
Sirul Azhar Umar, who is also the bodyguard of the former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, has been languishing in immigration detention in Australia since his claim for asylum in the country was rejected in 2019.
The Australian government refused to deport him to Malaysia, as he faced the death penalty and would be hanged if he returned.
According to a report by The Guardian , Sirul Azhar's lawyer, William Levingston, confirmed that his client had been released after the high court's decision but could not be sent back to Malaysia.
"My client is facing a hanging sentence in Malaysia due to a murder conviction and until the death penalty is abolished by the Malaysian government, the Australian government cannot send Sirul Umar home because it is not a 'refoulement' obligation," he said.
Australian lawyer Stephen Donaghue has identified 92 individuals potentially affected by the decision, although has admitted the estimate may not be comprehensive.
The Guardian Australia revealed on Friday that more than half of the 92 people identified by Donaghue had their visas revoked by the minister due to serious concerns about crime.
Documents tendered as part of the case show 78 were protected and dozens have been detained for more than a decade.
The Australian government has begun releasing individuals from indefinite detention after receiving multiple demands from long-term detainees.
Sirul Azhar was sentenced to death for being convicted of the 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian woman who was a translator, one of Najib's former allies, Razak Baginda.
The woman, said to be pregnant at the time of her murder, was abducted outside Razak Baginda's home and taken to a clearing on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, where she was shot and her body detonated with explosives.
Sirul Azhar was convicted with other officials and sentenced to death.
He, however, fled to Australia on his release pending appeal and attempted to seek asylum in that country.
Sirul Azhar insisted he was ordered to carry out the killing but refused to say who ordered the killing.
In an interview with Guardian Australia in 2018, he said he took part in the kidnapping but not the murder.
Sirul Azhar also claimed that he had been made the scapegoat in a complicated political crime.
