No other case in Malaysian history has stirred so much of interest. Speculations and conspiracy theories raged from coffee shops to swanky offices. It has become the biggest thorn in the flesh of the new premier and the most potent weapon in the opposition's arsenal.
Altantunya Shaarriibuu, the Mongoalian national who was brutally murdered in a jungle clearing in Shah Alam in December 2007, has become a household name in this country.
Her spectre was also raised in the campaign to yesterday's Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau by-elections, which even saw a group of opposition leaders conducting a prayer ritual for her.
Since the case came to light, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has been forced to repeatedly deny having any links with the matter, which found its way to the pages of newspapers around the globe.
The case received overwhelming attention when a close aide of Najib, political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda was charged with abetting the murder.
However, he was later acquitted, and this sparked off a fresh round of speculations that the powers-that-be had a hand in it.
On Oct 31, 2008, the political analyst walked out a free man after the court found that the prosecution had failed to furnish proof on an important element on the conspiracy charge.
Abdul Razak has since left to United Kingdom and is said to be taking up PhD at Oxford University.
Tomorrow, the Shah Alam High Court would decide on the fate of the two police special action force personnel - Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar - who were charged with murdering Altantunya.
Amid speculations that the duo had been made scapegoats to protect certain luminaries, the odds are that they would be sentenced to death.
'I want to be freed'
"If asked, I certainly want to be freed from this charge,"Azilah had told Bernama on the last day of his defence trial in February.
These words, according to the national news agency, made his fiancée Nur Azila Baharuddin smile. She has always been at his side throughout the trial to provide support. And according
to her, if Azilah's hope turns true, they will set their wedding at the nearest date.
Meanwhile, Sirul Azhar, the second defendant in the case, and the quieter of the two, had expressed the same feelings when asked the same question. "God willing there is some hope."
Both accused completed their own defence without any witness.
Azilah, 33, who is represented by two counsels, Hazman Ahmad and J Kuldeep Kumar presented his verbal testimony from the dock while Sirul Azhar, 37, who is represented by Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, Hasnal Redzua Marican and Ahmad Zaidi Zainal chose to read out the written testimony from the dock.
The duo were charged with murdering Altantuya, who was 28 then, between Lot 12843 and Lot 16735 Mukim Bukit Raja near here, between 10 pm, Oct 19 and 1 am, Oct 20, 2006.
When Abdul Razak was no longer in the picture, the case lost its appeal and those who initially followed it with a religious fervour were no longer keen.
Media enthusiasm on the trial has also waned with the number of media members covering the trial drastically reduced unlike previously where police had to control their numbers in the courtroom.
While Azilah and Sirul Azhar who pleaded not guilty are hoping to be released, the prosecution is going all out to prove they are the ones behind Altantuya's murder and the disposal of her remains using explosives.
The prosecution team consisting of Deputy Public Prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah, Noorin Badaruddin, Manoj Kurup and Hanim Rashid stressed in their submissions that Azilah and Sirul Azhar are the people behind Altantuya's murder.
Based on the evidence gathered from prosecution witnesses, the explosive used to blow up Altantuya's body was probably placed in her mouth.
'They had the motive'
Manoj noted at the end of the prosecution's case that both accused had the motive to kill and it was a pre-planned crime.
He also noted that several circumstantial evidence that the prosecution tried to prove were never denied, explained or answered by both defendants.
"Several of the strong evidence deduced from the testimonies when spun together will make two ropes that are strong enough to hang each one of them...
"The prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt on the actions of the duo calls for their conviction on the murder carried out with the common intention," he said.
Azilah who started his testimony on Jan 15 stated that he had no motive to kill or destroy the woman and instead he only met Altantuya to advise her politely not to harass Abdul Razak or create a ruckus outside the latter's home.
He also told the court that he was ordered by a superior, DSP Musa Safri to help Abdul Razak and thus he would not have done something stupid like killing and what more when he is a policeman.
While defending himself Sirul Azhar broke down a few times and related to the court that he has been made the ‘sacrificial lamb’ in the murder.
"I have no reason to hurt anyone, what more killing someone brutally. I appeal to the court that has the standing and powers to decide on my fate, not to punish me because by doing so it only completes the game play of those against me," he said reading out his written testimony on Feb 4.
The case as set many record including being the most number of days for hearing (159 days) and 84 witnesses at the prosecution stage and two at the defence stage.
According to records, Azilah has been incarcerated at the Sungai Buloh prison for 891 days while Sirul Azhar 895 days.
Altantunya Shaarriibuu, the Mongoalian national who was brutally murdered in a jungle clearing in Shah Alam in December 2007, has become a household name in this country.
Her spectre was also raised in the campaign to yesterday's Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau by-elections, which even saw a group of opposition leaders conducting a prayer ritual for her.
Since the case came to light, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has been forced to repeatedly deny having any links with the matter, which found its way to the pages of newspapers around the globe.
The case received overwhelming attention when a close aide of Najib, political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda was charged with abetting the murder.However, he was later acquitted, and this sparked off a fresh round of speculations that the powers-that-be had a hand in it.
On Oct 31, 2008, the political analyst walked out a free man after the court found that the prosecution had failed to furnish proof on an important element on the conspiracy charge.
Abdul Razak has since left to United Kingdom and is said to be taking up PhD at Oxford University.
Tomorrow, the Shah Alam High Court would decide on the fate of the two police special action force personnel - Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar - who were charged with murdering Altantunya.
Amid speculations that the duo had been made scapegoats to protect certain luminaries, the odds are that they would be sentenced to death.
'I want to be freed'
"If asked, I certainly want to be freed from this charge,"Azilah had told Bernama on the last day of his defence trial in February.
These words, according to the national news agency, made his fiancée Nur Azila Baharuddin smile. She has always been at his side throughout the trial to provide support. And according
to her, if Azilah's hope turns true, they will set their wedding at the nearest date.
Meanwhile, Sirul Azhar, the second defendant in the case, and the quieter of the two, had expressed the same feelings when asked the same question. "God willing there is some hope."
Both accused completed their own defence without any witness.
Azilah, 33, who is represented by two counsels, Hazman Ahmad and J Kuldeep Kumar presented his verbal testimony from the dock while Sirul Azhar, 37, who is represented by Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, Hasnal Redzua Marican and Ahmad Zaidi Zainal chose to read out the written testimony from the dock.
The duo were charged with murdering Altantuya, who was 28 then, between Lot 12843 and Lot 16735 Mukim Bukit Raja near here, between 10 pm, Oct 19 and 1 am, Oct 20, 2006.When Abdul Razak was no longer in the picture, the case lost its appeal and those who initially followed it with a religious fervour were no longer keen.
Media enthusiasm on the trial has also waned with the number of media members covering the trial drastically reduced unlike previously where police had to control their numbers in the courtroom.
While Azilah and Sirul Azhar who pleaded not guilty are hoping to be released, the prosecution is going all out to prove they are the ones behind Altantuya's murder and the disposal of her remains using explosives.
The prosecution team consisting of Deputy Public Prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah, Noorin Badaruddin, Manoj Kurup and Hanim Rashid stressed in their submissions that Azilah and Sirul Azhar are the people behind Altantuya's murder.
Based on the evidence gathered from prosecution witnesses, the explosive used to blow up Altantuya's body was probably placed in her mouth.
'They had the motive'
Manoj noted at the end of the prosecution's case that both accused had the motive to kill and it was a pre-planned crime.
He also noted that several circumstantial evidence that the prosecution tried to prove were never denied, explained or answered by both defendants.
"Several of the strong evidence deduced from the testimonies when spun together will make two ropes that are strong enough to hang each one of them..."The prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt on the actions of the duo calls for their conviction on the murder carried out with the common intention," he said.
Azilah who started his testimony on Jan 15 stated that he had no motive to kill or destroy the woman and instead he only met Altantuya to advise her politely not to harass Abdul Razak or create a ruckus outside the latter's home.
He also told the court that he was ordered by a superior, DSP Musa Safri to help Abdul Razak and thus he would not have done something stupid like killing and what more when he is a policeman.
While defending himself Sirul Azhar broke down a few times and related to the court that he has been made the ‘sacrificial lamb’ in the murder.
"I have no reason to hurt anyone, what more killing someone brutally. I appeal to the court that has the standing and powers to decide on my fate, not to punish me because by doing so it only completes the game play of those against me," he said reading out his written testimony on Feb 4.
The case as set many record including being the most number of days for hearing (159 days) and 84 witnesses at the prosecution stage and two at the defence stage.
According to records, Azilah has been incarcerated at the Sungai Buloh prison for 891 days while Sirul Azhar 895 days.
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