Cover image via says.com
Who is Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar? He is one of the two former elite Special Action Squad commandos, besides Azilah Hadri, who are charged for the gruesome murder of Altantuya back in October 2006.
Originally acquitted back in 2013, the two men were freed from prison. In a recent ruling, however, the court decided to reverse the acquittal and sent them back to the death row.
During the sentencing on 13 January 2015, Sirul, 43, was missing in action. His lawyer claimed to have lost contact with him for six months, with no clue about his wherabouts.
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Anonymous sources reported that Sirul had fled to Australia. His escape to Australia was said to be "necessary" and that he was already anticipating the death sentence.
The court issued an arrest warrant out for him. Interpol was also called into the picture and a Red Notice was issued to locate and extradite Sirul from Australia.
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Just a day after the Red Notice was issued, Sirul was arrested by Australian immigration officials and was detained in Brisbane
He may have been arrested by the authorities, but there is a catch, a huge one. It seems like Sirul will not be handed over to Malaysia to serve to face the capital punishment that easily.
As Australia opposes the death penalty, it is against the country's extradition laws (the handover of a suspect or fugitive to the foreign state in which the crime was committed) to surrender a person back to the home country to be executed
Rumours say Sirul was released, but Australian media recently reported that he had been transferred to a maximum security prison
Australia now stuck in limbo as they do not want Sirul in their country. They say it's not fair for them to be blamed and that Malaysia should have imposed stricter bail conditions on Sirul.
Did Sirul find a loophole in Australia's laws and used it to avoid his death sentence? Did he have outside help? How would this tricky situation play out?
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Sirul's court case has been going on for nine years but he wasn't charged with bail conditions nor was he asked to surrender his passport. That was why he could easily take a commercial flight to Australia.
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While Azilah Hadri has accepted his impending death, Sirul is not giving in so easily. Before he disappeared, he and his lawyer had dropped hints that he was framed for the death of Altantuya.
Speculations on the possibility of Sirul being made a scapegoat is rife, even former law minister Zaid Ibrahim pointed out that the truth has not surfaced
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A person claiming to be Sirul's son has emerged on Facebook, stating that the truth will bring down Malaysia and its Prime Minister
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It's crucial to note that key witnesses who could be vital in unlocking the truth including DSP Musa Safri were not called to the stand, possibly due to certain political agenda
If Sirul really is just an unfortunate scapegoat in this damning conspiracy, what about the real culprit? Would they get off scot-free?
Sirul's lawyer is not giving up yet. He is currently getting the murder charge reviewed and is adamant in opposing the extradition request from Malaysia.
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