AP Features, June 14th, 2007
A Mongolian university teacher demanded Thursday a speedy trial of three Malaysians accused in his daughter's death. One defendant is her former lover, with close links to Malaysia's ruling elite.
The trial over last year's killing of Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, is set to start Monday, two weeks after it was abruptly postponed because the attorney-general replaced the prosecutor at the last minute.
The trial is expected to reveal details of one of Malaysia's most talked-about scandals.
The star defendant, political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, is close to the ruling party and to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Abdul Razak is accused of abetting the slaying of Shaariibuu on Oct. 19, 2006, while two policemen are accused of carrying out the killing.
In an emotional news conference, the victim's father Setev Shaariibuu expressed hope there would be no more postponements.
"This is not a game," an angry Shaariibuu told reporters. "I hope the trial will start on Monday. If it is postponed again, it will prove that this is a political issue."
"I hope the trial decision will be out as soon as possible. The people of Malaysia and Mongolia are waiting for the judgment," said Shaariibuu, 55, a lecturer at the National University of Mongolia.
He also said he suspects his daughter was raped before being killed, but provided no explanation or evidence.
Shaariibuu was believed to have been shot and her body blown up with military-grade explosives. Only fragments of her body were found in a jungle clearing outside Malaysia's main city, Kuala Lumpur.
Abdul Razak, 47, has acknowledged having an eight-month extramarital affair with Shaariibuu, a freelance translator and interpreter, since late 2004.
Prosecutors are expected to contend that he got the two co-accused to kill her because she was harassing him after he ended the affair.
"She has been unlawfully arrested, assaulted, raped and murdered," Shaariibuu said. "They have been so violent with her that I believe they have also raped her."
Also Thursday, former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told reporters that legal circles are rife with speculation that charges against Abdul Razak could be dropped on Monday, and that the judge may be changed.
"All these moves are to prevent certain facts from emerging. Facts that could be politically embarrassing for a particular minister," he said, referring to Deputy Prime Minister Najib.
Najib has rejected opposition accusations that he knows more about the death, and the scandal has not overtly tainted the government or threatened its position.
The attorney-general's spokesman was on medical leave Thursday and said he could not comment on Anwar's allegations.
