Australian Immigration and Border Protection
Minister Peter Dutton was tight-lipped when asked to comment on former
police corporal Sirul Azhar Umar.
Dutton said privacy laws in Australia are quite strict and prevented him talking about individual cases.
"It is difficult for Australian ministers to comment on ongoing matters because of privacy laws and the desire not to prejudice any matter that might be under consideration," Dutton (left in photo) told reporters today.
He was asked for an update on Sirul Azhar, who is now under immigration detention in Australia where he fled to.
He was sentenced to death for killing Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Australia has no death penalty and its laws prevent the country from deporting people facing death sentence in their home countries.
Dutton was at the Home Ministry in Putrajaya to pay a courtesy call on the minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Dutton also clarified that applications for the deportation of Sirul will be taken into account but the process might take awhile.
"The Australian government will take into consideration any applications that have been made and advice that has been provided.
"But there is a stringent legal process and rule of law that operates in relation to serious allegations against people within the Australian border, and that process now needs to take its course," said Dutton.
Teleconference okay
Asked to comment on the recent teleconference attempt with Sirul held by PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar (below), Dutton said it was a non-issue as Australian law allowed for such form of communication.
He, however, declined to comment on Sirul's immigration status.
"I don't want to comment on individual matters, but the general rule of
law in Australia means that people, if they are subject to a visa, the
government has the ability to deal with that visa, they have the ability
to process matters according to the law.
"There are certain items and procedures, I will let officials comment in relation to particular matters, but there's nothing else publicly that I would like to add to it," the minister said.
While refusing to disclose specific details of his meet with the home minister, Dutton said Sirul’s matter had been raised by Zahid.
"Yes, the minister raised that issue with me and its an issue that he takes very seriously. It was raised during the course of our meeting," Dutton revealed without commenting further.
Dutton said privacy laws in Australia are quite strict and prevented him talking about individual cases."It is difficult for Australian ministers to comment on ongoing matters because of privacy laws and the desire not to prejudice any matter that might be under consideration," Dutton (left in photo) told reporters today.
He was asked for an update on Sirul Azhar, who is now under immigration detention in Australia where he fled to.
He was sentenced to death for killing Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Australia has no death penalty and its laws prevent the country from deporting people facing death sentence in their home countries.
Dutton was at the Home Ministry in Putrajaya to pay a courtesy call on the minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Dutton also clarified that applications for the deportation of Sirul will be taken into account but the process might take awhile.
"The Australian government will take into consideration any applications that have been made and advice that has been provided.
"But there is a stringent legal process and rule of law that operates in relation to serious allegations against people within the Australian border, and that process now needs to take its course," said Dutton.
Teleconference okay
Asked to comment on the recent teleconference attempt with Sirul held by PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar (below), Dutton said it was a non-issue as Australian law allowed for such form of communication.
He, however, declined to comment on Sirul's immigration status.
"I don't want to comment on individual matters, but the general rule of
law in Australia means that people, if they are subject to a visa, the
government has the ability to deal with that visa, they have the ability
to process matters according to the law."There are certain items and procedures, I will let officials comment in relation to particular matters, but there's nothing else publicly that I would like to add to it," the minister said.
While refusing to disclose specific details of his meet with the home minister, Dutton said Sirul’s matter had been raised by Zahid.
"Yes, the minister raised that issue with me and its an issue that he takes very seriously. It was raised during the course of our meeting," Dutton revealed without commenting further.
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