Authorities working to bring Sirul home, says Bukit Aman

KUALA LUMPUR: Former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar is still under an Interpol Red Notice, says Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain (pic).

The Bukit Aman CID director said authorities are still assessing possible avenues for bringing him back to Malaysia.

“It is now under the jurisdiction of the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

“However, Sirul is still on the Interpol Red Notice list,” he told a press conference in Bukit Aman here on Friday (Nov 24).

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It was reported that Sirul had been released following an Australian High Court decision on Nov 8 which stated that non-citizens who cannot be deported can no longer be held indefinitely by immigration authorities.

In 2009, the Shah Alam High Court imposed the death sentence to both Sirul and chief inspector Azilah Hadri after finding both guilty for the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.

On Aug 23, 2013, the Court of Appeal freed them.

However, on Jan 13, 2015, the Federal Court overturned the decision to acquit, reinstating the death penalty imposed by the High Court.

ALSO READ: Altantuya’s father cries foul over Sirul’s release from Aussie jail

Sirul was absent from court during the verdict as he was in Australia, following which the Federal Court issued a warrant for his arrest.

He was later detained by Australian immigration officers after Interpol issued the notice.

In an interview with Al-Jazeera on Friday, Sirul claimed he had been paid RM1mil for his silence during his detention in Australia.

He also said he wished to remain in that country, and apologised to Altantuya’s family.

A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant but a request to law enforcement authorities around the world to find and temporarily detain a suspect pending extradition or other legal action.