Govt, three others ordered to pay RM5 million to Altantuya's family

The Shah Alam High Court has ordered the government and three others to pay RM5 million to the family of Altantuya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian national who was brutally murdered 16 years ago.

Judge Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera ruled in favour of Altantuya's family in a RM100 million civil suit filed in 2007.

The plaintiffs include Altantuya's parents Shariibuu Setev and Altantseseg Sanjaa, and her brother, Mungunshagai Bayarjargal, who filed the suit against the Malaysian government, political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, and two former members of the Special Actions Unit – Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri – who have been convicted of the murder.

Altantuya, Razak's former lover, was killed in October 2006 and her body blown up with military-grade explosives. Razak, who was initially charged, was acquitted without being called to enter his defence.

Vazeer, in his decision, also ordered the four defendants to pay annual interest of 5% for the RM5 million compensation, in addition to RM25,000 to be paid by each of them to the family.

He said the two former police officers were proven to have "brutally killed" Altantuya.

He also said Razak should take responsibility as the killers would not have known the victim were it not for him requesting for their help to deal with Altantuya's threat to reveal their affair.

Vazeer said the government was also responsible for the actions of Azilah and Sirul, who used the resources of the police force.

Sangeet Kaur Deo represented Altantuya's family, Manjeet Singh Dhillon acted for Razak, and counsel Zetty Zurina Kamaruddin represented the government.

Azilah and Sirul were not represented.