KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian court yesterday overturned a 2009 murder conviction for two police officers in the killing of a Mongolian woman, sparking public outrage over the scandal, which critics have tried to link to Prime Minister Najib Razak. Activists and opposition leaders regard the Court of Appeal decision as a stunning turn in the six-year-old legal battle. Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar were convicted of the 2006 killing of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a 28-year-old model and interpreter at the centre of allegations of huge kickbacks in a government purchase of French submarines. Their acquittal led activists to call for an independent inquiry to reopen the case into who killed her and her link, if any, to the submarine deal and sparked outrage online. Najib has vehemently denied any involvement in the affair, but the government has repeatedly ignored calls for a probe.
China arrests activist
BEIJING: Police have arrested one of China’s most prominent rights activists who has called for officials to disclose their wealth, his lawyer said yesterday, raising the stakes in the government’s crackdown on anti-graft campaigners. The arrest of Xu Zhiyong, who has pushed for greater civil rights, could trigger an international outcry over Beijing’s tightening grip of a fledgling movement. It also exposes shortcomings in the government’s drive against corruption. Western governments have sparred repeatedly with Beijing over human rights and the United States raised Xu’s case this month during its annual rights dialogue with China. Xu, the founder of the “New Citizens’ Movement”, advocates working within the system to press for change. He has called on officials to disclose assets and activists have urged citizens to fight graft.
Hindu temple burgled
Kuala Lumpur: A Hindu temple in Malaysia was broken into yesterday, with thieves carting away gemstones and gold worth nearly Rs10 lakh. Police in Penang state said they received a call from the caretaker of Arulmigu Sri Mahamariamman temple in George Town after he discovered the place of worship was ransacked this morning. Officials said an initial investigation showed the burglars had entered the temple by prising open its metal gates.
Agencies
