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Mongolia has lodged a diplomatic protest with Malaysia over the handling of the murder case of a Mongolian woman, urging authorities to ensure a fair legal process and provide answers to her family 20 years after her killing.
Altantuya Shaariibuu was shot dead and blown up with military-grade plastic explosives in a jungle outside Kuala Lumpur in October 2006. Her killing touched off a scandal linked to former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has repeatedly denied any involvement.
Two members of an elite police unit who were Najib’s bodyguards were convicted of killing Altantuya. Her lover Abdul Razak Baginda, a close aide to Najib, was tried but acquitted of abetting the crime. Who ordered the killing was never established. Altantuya was 28 and pregnant at the time of her death.
Former Mongolian Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav said Thursday that Mongolia “profoundly regret the decision” in January by Malaysia’s Court of Appeal that removed the Malaysian government’s liability in a civil suit brought by Altantuya’s family and reduced the damages awarded.
Zandanshatar is Mongolia's special envoy and a member of a high-level government task force to support Altantuya's family.
