KUALA LUMPUR: Convicted murderer Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar has been arrested by immigration authorities in Australia, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said here yesterday.
He said based on the information he received from Australian authorities, Sirul Azhar was arrested on Tuesday in Queensland for an immigration offence and was being held at an immigration detention centre.
Khalid said the police would discuss with the Attorney-General’s Chambers to have Sirul Azhar extradited to Malaysia to serve his sentence for the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu nine years ago.
“We will have discussions with the Attorney-General’s Chambers first,” he told Bernama.
Sirul Azhar and Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri were charged in the High Court with the murder of 28-year-old Altantuya in 2006 and convicted in 2009.
On Aug 23, 2013, the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal by Sirul Azhar, 43, and Azilah, 38, and acquitted them.
On Jan 13 this year, the Federal Court overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal and upheld the High Court decision convicting both men to death.
Sirul Azhar was not present in court when the Federal Court delivered its judgement.
The court issued a warrant of arrest for him. — Bernama