SHAH ALAM: The High Court has ordered the government and political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda to pay over RM9.4 million to the family of murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Judicial Commissioner M. Sumathi ruled that the payment totalling RM9,404,109.59, including interest, to be settled within 30 days into the account of Altantuya’s father, Shaariibuu Setev’s, through law firm Karpal Singh & Co, from the date of the order yesterday.
Sumathi also ruled that the government and Razak must each pay RM25,000 in costs to Shaariibuu.
Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo, who acted for the family, said the court allowed a conditional stay of the payment following a written application by Razak and the government, who are third and fourth defendants respectively.
However, the judge ordered the third and fourth defendants to deposit RM4,702,054.80, or 50 per cent of the sum, into the plaintiff’s solicitors’ interest bearing stakeholder account within 30 days.
The judge said the funds are to be held until the disposal of the appeal at the Court of Appeal.
Additionally, I order that the sum of RM25,000, which has been awarded as costs in the judgement against the third and fourth defendants to be paid to the plaintiffs within 30 days from today.
“Should the appeal be allowed, the deposited sum together with interest earned on it shall be returned to the third and fourth defendants within 30 days from the date of the judgment of the CoA.
“However, should the appeal be dismissed, the sum held together with interest is to be released to the plaintiffs within 30 days from the date of the judgment of the CoA.
“In both the possible outcome at the CoA, the sum held is to be released accordingly, unless directed otherwise by the CoA and or by any other order obtained from the court in relation to it,” she said.
In 2022, the High Court awarded RM5 million to Altantuya’s family over her death in 2006.
he amount awarded was from the RM100 million suit filed against several individuals linked to her death in 2006.
Judge Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, who is now a Court of Appeal judge, had said the RM100 million amount sought by plaintiffs Altantuya’s parents, Dr Shaariibuu and Altantsetseg Sanjaa and their two grandsons, Mungunshagai Bayarjargal and Altanshagai Munkhtulga was excessive and cannot be justified.
The four had filed the suit against former Special Action Unit policemen Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, as well as Razak and the government seeking general, severe and exemplary damages.
He also ordered each defendant named in the suit to pay the family RM25,000 in costs and interest of five per cent per annum of the sum of judgment, from the date of the accrual of action until the date of full settlement.
He said considering the manner in which Altantuya was killed, he found that the sum of RM5 million to be fair.
He had ruled that there was no reasonable motive for Azilah and Sirul to kill Altantuya and blow up her body.
The judge said the only link between them was Razak, who wanted the harassment by Altantuya to stop and the government as vicariously liable as it was Sirul and Azilah’s employer at the material time.
The Federal Court in January 2015 found Azilah and Sirul guilty of murdering Altantuya.
