Federal Court to decide on prosecution’s appeal in Altantuya case – Bernama

One of the two convicted in the Altantuya murder shields himself from reporters as he makes way to a police car outside the court, last year. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 7, 2015.The Federal Court has set January 13 to deliver its decision in the prosecution's appeal against the acquittal of two former special action unit (UTK) personnel on a charge of murdering Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.Federal Court corporate communications and international relations head Mohd Aizuddin Zolkeply confirmed that the decision date has been fixed on January 13.The decision would be delivered by a five-member panel led by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria who heard the appeal for three days from June 23 last year and reserved their decision.Presiding with him were Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum and Federal Court judges Tan Sri Abdull Hamid Embong, Tan Sri Suriyadi Halim Omar and Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop.When contacted, lawyer Datuk Hazman Ahmad who is representing Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri said his legal firm received a notice from the Federal Court registry yesterday, notifying the date for the decision.Counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamarudin, representing Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, and deputy public prosecutor Datuk Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah also confirmed the date.Tun Abdul Majid is also deputy solicitor General I (Litigation) in the Attorney-General's Chambers.The prosecution is appealing against the August 23, 2013 decision of the Court of Appeal in acquitting the two policemen.The Court of Appeal had allowed the policemen's appeal to set aside the 2009 Shah Alam High Court's decision in finding them guilty for the woman's murder and sentenced them to death.Former political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, 50, who was charged with abetting Azilah and Sirul Azhar, was acquitted by the High Court on October 31, 2008 after it held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.The prosecution did not appeal against his acquittal. – Bernama, January 7, 2015.