The former Special Actions Unit policeman Azilah Hadri, convicted for the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006, has had his death penalty reduced to a 40-year jail term. This decision came after Mr Shaariibuu Setev, the father of the deceased, wrote a letter supporting Azilah’s application for a commutation of his sentence. In the letter, Mr Shaariibuu emphasized the sanctity of life and the right to existence, urging for mercy for Azilah.
The letter by Mr Shaariibuu was read out in the Federal Court in Putrajaya by Azilah’s lawyer, Mr J Kuldeep Kumar. The plea for mercy was directed not only towards Azilah, but also to Sirul Umar, the other co-perpetrator in the case. The Federal Court review panel, chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, accepted Azilah’s application for a reduced sentence. The court then decided to reduce his punishment to a 40-year jail term along with 12 strokes of cane.
Azilah, now 48 years old, had been on death row for the past nine years before this decision to commute his sentence. The relief was evident in his demeanor after the court’s decision was announced, as reported by his lawyer. Azilah and Sirul Azhar Umar, both former policemen, were found guilty of murdering Altantuya by shooting her and then blowing up her body with C4 explosives near Subang Dam in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam in 2006. This high-profile case has been a subject of controversy and debate for years.
The reduction of Azilah’s sentence to a jail term has been seen as a significant development in this long-running case. The support from the deceased’s father for leniency towards Azilah played a crucial role in this decision. The recognition of the sanctity of life and the right to existence by the United Nations was highlighted in the plea for mercy. Azilah’s lawyer, Mr Kuldeep, expressed his client’s relief and gratitude after the court’s decision was announced, marking the end of his long ordeal on death row.
The case of Altantuya Shaariibuu’s murder has been a tragic chapter in Malaysian history, with the involvement of high-profile individuals and allegations of political connections. The reduction of Azilah’s penalty from death to a lengthy jail term reflects a shift in the justice system’s approach towards capital punishment. The acceptance of Mr Shaariibuu’s plea for forgiveness and mercy towards Azilah has brought a sense of closure to this case, although it continues to be a subject of interest and scrutiny in the Malaysian legal and political spheres.
