Sirul Azhar Umar: Mother of Malaysian bodyguard convicted of murder urges Australia to protect son
The mother of a former bodyguard to the Malaysian prime minister has appealed to Australian authorities to grant "full protection" to her son, who is facing the death penalty in his home country.
Sirul Azhar Umar was detained by Australian authorities in January when Interpol issued a red notice after Malaysia's federal court sentenced him to death in absentia.
He had been living in Queensland with his 15-year-old son before his arrest and conviction for killing a Mongolian interpreter.
The case is diplomatically challenging as Australia will not extradite anyone facing the death penalty overseas.
The 28-year-old victim, Altantuya Shaariibuu, was shot twice in a jungle clearing outside Kuala Lumpur and her body blown up with military-grade explosives, leaving only fragments of bone, hair and tissue as evidence.
A former member of the Malaysian police special action unit, Sirul Azhar, claimed he was ordered to kill the woman but never revealed who gave the order.
At the time, he was a bodyguard to then deputy and now current Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak.
Sirul Azhar's elderly mother travelled to Australia as part of a "humanitarian mission" arranged by the Malaysian opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS).
Piah Samad urged local authorities to give her son "full protection in Australia".
"It's more [safe] in Australia than going back to Malaysia," she said.
Sirul Azhar's sister Noriatin Umar was also in Australia along with Malaysian MP Mahfuz Omar and PAS foreign affairs spokesman Dr Syed Azman.
Ms Altantuya was the mistress of one of Mr Najib's closest advisers, Abdul Razak Baginda, who was also charged but later acquitted of abetting her murder.
'The important people with motive are still free'
It has long been alleged Ms Altantuya was killed because of her intimate knowledge of bribery and kickbacks during high-level government negotiations.
Sirul Azhar said he had never met Ms Altantuya before the night of her death in October 2006.
Her earring, watch and ring were found in Sirul Azhar's jacket when his house was searched.
Last month, Sirul Azhar told members of the Malaysian media by phone that he was ordered to kill Ms Altantuya.
"The important people with motive are still free," he told the Malaysiakini web portal.
The PAS delegation plans to visit Sirul Azhar in Villawood detention centre on Tuesday.
"Hopefully tomorrow we'll find something out," Dr Syed said.
Mr Mahfuz said no official extradition request had yet been made by Malaysia.
When asked why a Malaysian opposition party official was involved in the case and what it hoped to gain, Dr Syed said: "Our mission is more humanitarian. That's why we are bringing [Sirul Azhar's] mum and ... sister."
"It's not a matter of benefiting anything.
"We want all Malaysians to know what really happened to the case."
During the four-day visit, the group plans to meet with local human rights groups and politicians.
Dr Syed refused to say which MPs had been approached.
Sirul Azhar's mother said she was "praying for the safety and safe passage" of her son.
