The Inspector-General of Police has confirmed that former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar has been released from the Villawood Immigration detention centre in Sydney, Australia. Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said that the police will discuss the possibility of extraditing Sirul with the Attorney General.
When asked about Sirul’s release, Razarudin stated, “We will discuss the matter with the relevant parties because he has already been sentenced. Regarding extradition, it is better to ask the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) instead. The request for repatriation needs to be addressed by the AGC as this involves the governments of Malaysia and Australia.”
He also mentioned that there are no restrictions on the police meeting Sirul after his release in Australia, stating that they have officers there and can meet Sirul because he has already been released. It was reported that Sirul had been released following an Australian High Court decision on Nov 8, which stated that immigration authorities can no longer indefinitely hold non-citizens who cannot be deported.
In 2009, the Shah Alam High Court issued the death sentence to both Sirul and chief inspector Azilah Hadri after finding both guilty of the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal of Azilah and Sirul in 2013, freeing them from the charges. However, in 2015, the Federal Court overturned the decision to acquit Sirul and Azilah, reinstating the death penalty imposed by the High Court.
Sirul was absent from the court during the verdict as he was in Australia. Following this, the Federal Court issued a warrant for his arrest, and Australian immigration officers detained him after Interpol issued a red notice.
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