John
04-09-2009, 02:06 PM
Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate of Mr Najib, was accused of ordering police to kill his former lover after she came to his home asking for money.
But he was acquitted last year of abetting 28-year-old Altantuya Shaariibuu's murder in 2006.
With its ingredients of sex, politics and violence, the case has gripped the nation.
Miss Altantuya's body was blown up with military-grade explosives in a jungle clearing, leaving only shattered bone fragments as evidence.
The two officers found guilty of the murder, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, are from an elite unit that guards top ministers.
The men have blamed each other and failed to "raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case", the court heard during their trial.
"I sentence both of you to death," said Shah Alam High Court judge Zaki Mohamad Yasin. "You will be taken to a place of execution where you will be hanged."
Sirul has claimed he is a "scapegoat" and lawyers for both men said they will file an appeal.
Malaysia's top blogger, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, has been charged with sedition after repeatedly linking Mr Najib and his wife to the murder on his popular website Malaysia Today.
Prime Minister Najib has vehemently denied any involvement in the killing, insisting he never met Altantuya.
But despite any evidence linking him to the case, the allegations persist and the opposition has called for an official inquiry.
Karpal Singh, an opposition politician and leading lawyer representing Miss Altantuya's family, said the verdict would not quell speculation over the case.
"You must satisfy the international community. The international community does not accept that only these two are responsible for the murder. It goes beyond these two," he said.
But he was acquitted last year of abetting 28-year-old Altantuya Shaariibuu's murder in 2006.
With its ingredients of sex, politics and violence, the case has gripped the nation.
Miss Altantuya's body was blown up with military-grade explosives in a jungle clearing, leaving only shattered bone fragments as evidence.
The two officers found guilty of the murder, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, are from an elite unit that guards top ministers.
The men have blamed each other and failed to "raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case", the court heard during their trial.
"I sentence both of you to death," said Shah Alam High Court judge Zaki Mohamad Yasin. "You will be taken to a place of execution where you will be hanged."
Sirul has claimed he is a "scapegoat" and lawyers for both men said they will file an appeal.
Malaysia's top blogger, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, has been charged with sedition after repeatedly linking Mr Najib and his wife to the murder on his popular website Malaysia Today.
Prime Minister Najib has vehemently denied any involvement in the killing, insisting he never met Altantuya.
But despite any evidence linking him to the case, the allegations persist and the opposition has called for an official inquiry.
Karpal Singh, an opposition politician and leading lawyer representing Miss Altantuya's family, said the verdict would not quell speculation over the case.
"You must satisfy the international community. The international community does not accept that only these two are responsible for the murder. It goes beyond these two," he said.