Altantuya's dad, Mongolian govt file to have counsel removed
SHAH ALAM: The Mongolian government and the father of murder victim Altantuya Shaariibuu have appealed against High Court judge Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin’s decision not to direct a relative to disqualify himself from acting as counsel in the trial.
The notice of appeal, lodged at the criminal division High Court registry Thursday afternoon, was filed by lawyer Daniel Abishegam of Karpal Singh & Co. The Mongolian government and Shaariibuu Setev are naming the public prosecutor as the respondent. In a press statement issued later, Karpal Singh said the notice was filed in the interest of Altantuya’s family as well as in the public’s interest.
“The appeal is against Justice Mohd Zaki decision on Monday to dismiss my application that Hazman Ahmad, lead counsel for the accused C/Insp Azilah Hadri, be disqualified from defending the accused. “The application was made on the ground that Hazman’s late wife was the trial judge's niece,” Karpal Singh said.
The veteran lawyer said he had also sent a letter to the judge, appealing that he hand down his written judgment together with its grounds well before the trial commences on June 18. He said this was important so that the Court of Appeal could hand down its judgment on the issue as soon as possible. The murder trial was scheduled to begin on Monday but was postponed to June 18 because of a last-minute change of prosecutors. Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has since clarified that he had changed the team of prosecutors in the interest of justice. He said on Wednesday that DPP Salehuddin Saidin, who was leading the original prosecution team, had been seen playing badminton with Justice Mohd Zaki.
In the dock are C/Insp Azilah, 31, and Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, who are charged with murdering Altantuya in Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year. Also in the dock is political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, 47, who is accused of abetting the two Unit Tindakan Khas (Special Action Force) personnel at the Bangunan Getah Asli in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18 last year.
The notice of appeal, lodged at the criminal division High Court registry Thursday afternoon, was filed by lawyer Daniel Abishegam of Karpal Singh & Co. The Mongolian government and Shaariibuu Setev are naming the public prosecutor as the respondent. In a press statement issued later, Karpal Singh said the notice was filed in the interest of Altantuya’s family as well as in the public’s interest.
“The appeal is against Justice Mohd Zaki decision on Monday to dismiss my application that Hazman Ahmad, lead counsel for the accused C/Insp Azilah Hadri, be disqualified from defending the accused. “The application was made on the ground that Hazman’s late wife was the trial judge's niece,” Karpal Singh said.
The veteran lawyer said he had also sent a letter to the judge, appealing that he hand down his written judgment together with its grounds well before the trial commences on June 18. He said this was important so that the Court of Appeal could hand down its judgment on the issue as soon as possible. The murder trial was scheduled to begin on Monday but was postponed to June 18 because of a last-minute change of prosecutors. Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has since clarified that he had changed the team of prosecutors in the interest of justice. He said on Wednesday that DPP Salehuddin Saidin, who was leading the original prosecution team, had been seen playing badminton with Justice Mohd Zaki.
In the dock are C/Insp Azilah, 31, and Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, who are charged with murdering Altantuya in Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year. Also in the dock is political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, 47, who is accused of abetting the two Unit Tindakan Khas (Special Action Force) personnel at the Bangunan Getah Asli in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18 last year.
Source : The Star
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