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Hadi Azmi

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.
“We set aside the death sentence and substitute it with imprisonment for 40 years from the date of arrest … and 12 strokes [of the cane],” Tengku Maimun said.
Azilah is now scheduled for release in 2046.
The ruling was influenced in part by a letter from Altantuya’s father, Shaariibuu Setev, who supported the application for a reduced sentence, citing the United Nations’ recognition of the sanctity of life.
“My request stems from a deep respect for the humanity of Mongolians,” Shaariibuu said.
“Let us honour the virtues of humanity and uphold truthful expression in every nation.”
Azilah’s application came following Malaysia’s decision to do away with its mandatory death penalty last year as part of a series of sweeping reforms to the country’s colonial-era laws. The change impacts over 1,300 inmates currently on death row by handing judges greater discretion over sentencing.
Under the revised law, which applies retroactively, murder – alongside 10 other offences that previously carried the death penalty – may instead be punished with “life imprisonment”, defined as a jail term of between 30 and 40 years, plus 12 lashes of the cane.
Judges, however, can still hand out the death sentence based on their discretion.
In a 2019 statutory declaration published by local news outlet Malaysiakini, Azilah said that the order to kill Altantuya came from then-deputy prime minister Najib Razak, who was also the defence minister at the time, as well as his close friend and defence analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.
In the declaration, Azilah said that Najib had claimed Altantuya was a foreign spy who was detrimental to national security and instructed him to “catch and dispose” of her.
“I asked [Najib] what was meant by that, and he replied, ‘shoot to kill,’ while making a gesture of cutting the neck,” Azilah claimed.
He added that Najib instructed him to destroy the remains of the “foreign spy”.

Najib has strenuously denied any involvement in Altantuya’s murder and his lawyers say he has been exonerated from allegations linked to the case.
Azilah and Sirul were previously acquitted by the Court of Appeal in 2013 before the Federal Court overturned the decision and again found them both guilty and sentenced them to death in 2015.
Sirul, however, managed to flee to Australia, where he was detained by immigration after failing to obtain asylum. Australia’s laws prohibit the extradition of individuals to countries where they face the death penalty, hindering Malaysia’s efforts to bring him back.
In 2023, he was released from detention.
In a November 2023 interview with Al Jazeera, Sirul claimed that Azilah informed him that the murder was a “special operation for Najib”.
Najib, who is currently serving a 6-year jail sentence for his part in the 1MDB corruption scandal, denied the allegation through a statement by his lawyer.
“We wish to reiterate that our client (Najib) has been conclusively exonerated of any involvement in this case and has been affirmed by relevant authorities,” said Najib’s lawyer, Shafee Abdullah.


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Policemen Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar arrive at the courthouse in Shah Alam outside Kuala Lumpur in 2009. Photo: Reuters 

Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was murdered in 2006. Photo: EPA

Shaariibuu Setev, father of slain Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, breaks down during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2006. Photo: AFP

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Najib Razak, Malaysia’s former prime minister. Photo: Bloomberg

epa00858061 BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE This undated handout picture, released on Wednesday 08 November 2006, shows Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu (also goes by the name Anna Ana Ang). A top Malaysian political analyst with a government-linked think tank was remanded Wednesday in the gruesome murder of the Mongolian model, in a case that also involves three top police officers, official news reports said. EPA/HANDOUT BEST QUALITY AVALAIBLE

Policemen Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar arrive at the courthouse in Shah Alam outside Kuala Lumpur in this January 15, 2009 file photo. The Court of Appeal overturned the conviction of Sirul Azhar and his colleague Azilah Hadri, who were accused of the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu on August 23, 2013 according to local media. In 2009, the two officers were convicted and sentenced to death by the High Court for killing the Mongolian woman in 2006. Picture taken January 15, 2009. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/Files (MALAYSIA - Tags: CRIME LAW)

epa01536635 Malaysian top political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda smiles as he leaves the courthouse in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia on 31 October 2008. A Malaysian court on 31 October acquitted a prominent political analyst of involvement in the gruesome killing of a Mongolian woman two years ago. EPA/AHMAD YUSNI

Lawyer for Malaysia’s former PM Najib Razak says hitman’s claim ‘laughable’

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has said the claim that he ordered a hit on a Mongolian model is part of a strategy to implicate him for murder so he can be detained without bail. Photo: EPA-EFE

Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibu (left) and Sirul Azhar Umar. Photos: Interpol, EPA

20 November 2019, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur: Former Malaysian Prime minister Najib Razak arrives at Kuala Lumpur Court to attend his trial as he faces corruption charges. Photo: Shazreen Zamzuri/BERNAMA/dpa

Hitman claims Najib Razak ordered killing of model Altantuya Shaariibuu, accusing her of spying on Malaysia

Policemen Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar arrive at court. In 2009 both were convicted and sentenced to death. Photo: Reuters

Najib Razak. Photo: EPA

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The country’s apex court reduced Azilah Hadri’s sentence to 40 years in prison after the victim’s father pleased for clemency


The country’s apex court reduced Azilah Hadri’s sentence to 40 years in prison after the victim’s father pleased for clemency.


Najib Razak

Malaysia 1MDB scandal

Malaysian politics

Crime