Govt May Announce Decision On Sirul In 48 Hours

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Police chief Razarudin Husain (right) said discussions would be held on the possibility of repatriating Sirul Azhar Umar.PETALING JAYA: A government decision might be made within 48 hours on seeking the repatriation of convicted killer Sirul Azhar Umar from Australia.
Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, asked about the government’s response to Sirul’s release from an Australian immigration detention centre, told FMT that he would issue a statement in 48 hours on the government’s next step.
He did not elaborate but confirmed that Sirul was released from the Villawood centre in Sydney yesterday.
However, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain told Bernama that discussions would be held on the possibility of Sirul’s repatriation as he had been convicted of the killing of a Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.
Razarudin said the Malaysian police had officers in Australia “and can actually see Sirul because he is free”.
Sirul and former police chief inspector Azilah Hadri were sentenced to death for the murder, but Sirul fled to Australia in 2006 and sought asylum, before the death sentence was confirmed by the Federal Court in 2015. The court also issued an arrest warrant against Sirul.
Azilah has been on death row since then, while Sirul has been detained by Australian immigration.
Razarudin said the application for Sirul’s repatriation would be handled by the attorney-general’s chambers, as the matter involves the Malaysian and Australian governments.
Sirul’s release from Australian immigration custody followed a ruling by the Australian High Court on Nov 8 that non-citizen detainees who cannot be deported can no longer be detained indefinitely by immigration authorities.
Malaysia has sought Sirul’s deportation from Australia on the basis that he had been convicted and sentenced and was the subject of an arrest warrant. Australia has said its law forbids the deportation of anyone who faces the death penalty in their home country.
However, Malaysia has since abolished the death penalty and reviews of those sentenced to death are being handled by the Federal Court. - FMT

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