Setev Shaariibuu, the father of slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, said his daughter had travelled to France under her other name, Aminah Abdullah.
“We have proof that she did indeed travel to France and will produce the evidence if so required,” said Setev in a press release today.

His press release was read out by Kelana Jaya parliamentarian Loh Gwo Burne at the lobby of the Selangor legislative assembly.

NONESetev was responding to a news report which stated that Altantuya never travelled to France between 1999 and 2007 based on French immigration records.

He said that regardless of this, he was informed by his daughter that she did travel to France and several other countries with a passport bearing her Muslim name.

French courts are currently probing a complaint by Petaling Jaya-based human rights watchdog Suaram on alleged impropriety in the sale of two submarines to Malaysia.

It is hypothesised that Altantuya is a crucial link in the deal, because of her relationship with Abdul Razak Baginda, who ran the company which facilitated the deal.
Fact-finding team

But Altantuya met a tragic end in October 2006 when she attempted to visit Abdul Razak in Kuala Lumpur.

In April 2009, two bodyguards attached to then deputy premier Najib Abdul Razak were convicted of killing Altantuya and blowing up her body with explosives.

Setev said Suaram should be commended for its effort to unearth the scandal behind the submarine sale, which he said will provide clues to his daughter’s death.

“I hope that through this case and the efforts of other good people in France and Malaysia, we will get to the truth and hopefully find the real masterminds behind my daughter’s murder,” he said.

Conversely, Setev said it was “shocking” that the Malaysian government was not interested in participating or assisting the French probe.

Setev said Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi had once claimed that Malaysia would assist the probe but later turned back on his word.

However, Setev still expressed hope that Malaysia would fulfil its word to provide assistance to the Mongolian fact-finding team, that will be arriving in August to probe Altantuya’s death.