Explainer | The murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu: scandal that haunts Malaysia’s former PM Najib Razak

The Mongolian translator was killed in 2006 but her case remains a source of intrigue due to her alleged links to a submarine deal and the former leader

In December, one of the men convicted of her murder signed a statutory declaration claiming Najib had ordered him to ‘arrest and destroy’ Altantuya

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Najib Razak, Malaysia’s former prime minister. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 3:30pm, 17 Dec 2019Updated: 10:16am, 18 Dec 2019

The 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu in Malaysia remains a source of intrigue and conjecture regarding the involvement of former prime minister Najib Razak.

Altantuya was in a romantic relationship with Abdul Razak Baginda, a politically connected defence analyst and an adviser to Najib when he was defence minister.

In 2002, Abdul Razak brokered a US$1.1 billion deal for the Malaysian Defence Ministry to buy two French Scorpene-class submarines. Altantuya allegedly demanded US$500,000 to stay quiet about corruption in the deal, fuelling speculation that this is why she was killed.

Two policemen were convicted for her murder: Azilah Hadri is on death row; Sirul Azhar Umar fled to Australia, where he is in detention.

On December 16, however, a statutory declaration by Azilah – in his bid for a retrial – explicitly implicated Najib, whose political fortunes have collapsed since his defeat in a general election last year.

Najib already faces dozens of charges over his involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal. He could soon face another legal headache if the government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad decides, 13 years later, to re-examine his links to Malaysia’s most politically charged killing.

Altantuya Shaariibuu disappeared in October 2006. Her remains were found three weeks later. Photo: EPA

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