PMO: No ties between Najib and Altantuya

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has never met, has never had any communication with and has no link whatsoever with Altantuya Shaariibuu (pix), the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
The statement was issued in response to Al Jazeera's 101 Asia-Pacific current affairs programme titled Murder in Malaysia which alleged that Najib knew the murdered Mongolian model.
"The two convicted individuals were not the Prime Minister's personal guards. This allegation is intentionally misleading, and has been used to perpetuate baseless conspiracy theories.
"They were members of a unit of the Royal Malaysian Police that provides rotating security for government officials and visiting dignitaries. The Prime Minister was not aware of the actions of the individuals until their arrest," read the statement which was published on Al Jazeera's website below the video of the documentary.
The PMO further stated that a comprehensive legal process has taken place, including police investigations and court trials, adding that the guilty parties have been convicted and sentenced.
"At no point during any of these legal stages was the Prime Minister implicated, even indirectly. These malicious allegations are therefore also an affront to Malaysia's Judiciary.
"Political opponents and their media allies have been trying to attack the Prime Minister on this issue for many years. But there is absolutely no evidence of any wrongdoing, and there never will be - for the very good reason that the allegations are entirely false smears motivated by political gain."
The statement further said that Altantuya was never involved in the purchase of submarines for the Royal Malaysian Navy, as alleged. Adding that the purchase was directly negotiated between the Malaysian and French governments.
Former Corporal Sirul Azhar and Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri were sentenced to death by the Federal Court in January for the murder of Altantuya.
The federal court allowed the prosecution's appeal to set aside the decision of a Court of Appeal which had on Aug 23, 2014, freed Azilah and Sirul of the murder charge.
Sirul was not present when the Federal Court delivered its judgement, it was later revealed that he had fled to Australia.
On Jan 20, he was arrested by Australian Immigration officials after Interpol issued a red notice for his arrest and has been detained at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney ever since.
Former political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, who was charged with abetting Azilah and Sirul Azhar, was acquitted on Oct 31, 2008, by the High Court which held that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.