Malaysia’s apex court on Thursday commuted the death sentence on a bodyguard of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who was convicted of murdering a Mongolian national in 2006 after the victim’s father pleaded for clemency.
Azilah Hadri, 48, a former chief inspector with the Royal Malaysian Police who was also tasked with protecting then-prime minister Najib, was sentenced to death in 2009 alongside Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar for the gruesome slaying of Altantuya Shaariibuu.
The body of 28-year-old Altantuya, a Mongolian model and interpreter, was found on October 18, 2006. She had been blown up using C4 explosives outside Kuala Lumpur.
Altantuya also worked as an interpreter on a US$2 billion French submarine deal that was mired in allegations of corruption.
The Federal Court in Putrajaya, made up of a panel of three judges led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, concluded the applicant’s arguments provided “strong indicating factors and valid reasons” for the court to commute the death sentence.