Don't entertain Sirul's pardon request: Ramkarpal

PETALING JAYA: The government should not entertain the request of former cop Sirul Azhar Umar who demanded for a full pardon in exchange for his testimony over the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.
Stating this, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said Sirul was in no position to bargain his way to freedom, especially as the crime he was convicted for was done in a heinous manner.
"The "offer" by Sirul to reveal what transpired in the case of Altantuya Shaariibuu provided he is given a full pardon and allowed back into Malaysia a free man ... is downright insulting to her memory and ought not to be entertained at all," he said.
"There is absolutely no hint of remorse from Sirul in his said interview particularly when the murder was committed in such a heinous manner," Ramkarpal, who is also a lawyer, said in a statement.
Sirul, who fled to Australia and is currently under immigration detention there, had told Malaysiakini in an interview that he would assist the new Pakatan Harapan government on the case of Altantuya, provided if he was given a full pardon and allowed to return to Malaysia.
Sirul was sentenced to death by the Federal Court in 2015 for murdering Altantuya. He was jointly charged with his superior, former chief inspector Azilah Hadri, but failed to show up at the Federal Court to face the verdict of the prosecution's appeal to overturn a decision by the Court of Appeal to free both men in 2013.
Malaysia was unable to demand for Sirul's return as Australia's extradition laws prohibit a person to be sent home if he has been sentenced to death.
Ramkarpal however stated that the matter could be overcome if the government commuted Sirul's sentence to life imprisonment.
By reducing the sentence, Sirul could serve his imprisonment in Malaysia while at the same time assist with the case on Altantuya's murder.
"Once he is back on home soil, he will be compelled to cooperate in the said investigations or RCI (Royal Commission of Inquiry) and if necessary, appear as a witness against those who ordered Altantuya's murder," he said.
Ramkarpal said it was also unlikely that Sirul had any personal knowledge of what transpired on the night of the murder as it was clear from the evidence during the trial that Azilah had played a bigger role.
"In the circumstances, it is likely that Sirul's knowledge, if any, is merely hearsay and based only on what he was told by Azilah," he added.