MORE PICS & Video – Day 33 – Altantuya Murder Trial; Sirul Azhar Claims: I am being framed; Someone planted the jewelry items in my never worn Jacket

See Bottom on an UPDATE on Day 34 Trial


Altantuya Murder Trial - Resumes - Day 33

MORE PICS & Video – Day 33 – Altantuya Murder Trial; Sirul Azhar Claims: I am being framed; Someone planted the jewelry items in my never worn Jacket; Believe it or Not.

After a 3 week break, the witness Sirul Azhar came back with a half cooked-up story in denying knowledge of Altantuya’s jewelry and at a loss to understand how they were placed in his jacket which he also claimed never worn. The mystery deepens. Why would one buy a jacket from India and keep it? The police must have practiced “black magic”, snapped their fingers and had the items placed inside his jacket in the apartment. Why would the police frame him?

The judge would make a ruling at the end of the prosecution's case

ABOVE: Malaysiakini, latest Report, details H E R E by Subscription. When he denies keeping it, it means he did not volunteer the information. So once again, this evidence would not be admissible as it was given with inducement. BELOW: The updated Version

ABOVE & BELOW: The accused Abdul Razak Baginda arriving in Court on Day 33 Trial after a 3-week recess

= == = = == == = = == = =BELOW: the 1st or 2nd accused, still hooded to hide his innocent face

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Sirul: Attempts to fix me

R. Surenthira Kumar and Maria J. Dass; SUN

SHAH ALAM (Sept 3, 2007): Murder accused Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, told the High Court here today that he realised there were attempts to incriminate him with the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu when ASP Zulkarnain Samsudin laid out his (Sirul's) black leather jacket (BELOW) on his (Sirul's) bed and put the woman's jewellery (BELOW) on it.

"From that I knew that these were attempts to fix me and I saw that I was going to get it," he said, adding that this was compounded by the act of Zulakarnain asking him to point at the jacket while pictures were taken. Sirul, a member of the police Special Action Unit (UTK), said he only pointed to the items as shown in the photographs as he was following 'orders' from Zulkarnain to do so. Sirul was answering questions by his counsel Hasnal Redzua Merican during re-examination in a trial- within-a-trial to determine if an alleged disclosure by him had been rightfully obtained and if it should be excluded. "At that time I did not know that I would be incriminated with anything, although the thought did cross my mind," said Sirul. Earlier during cross-examination DPP Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah, Sirul said he did not know where the murdered woman's jewellery was kept in his jacket. He claimed that it was not him who had put it in the inner pockets of the jacket, and that he did not know how it got there.

Sirul said he had never seen or touched the jewellery prior to that and did not know who it belonged to. He added that he had not worn the black leather jacket which he had bought in India for a long time. Sirul said he did not know that the Larmes watch, ring and a pair of earrings belonged to Altantuya and only realised that they may be the items Zulkarnain was referring to during interrogation when he placed the items on the jacket. Asked by Hasnal why he had told the police officers who were searching his house to eat and take back to the office with them the kuih-raya on his table which he had brought home from Taiping, Sirul said this was because he felt that he would not be able to eat it himself anymore. "Why did you think that?" asked Tun Abdul Majid.

"Because I felt that I would be remanded over a longer period," replied Sirul who agreed that this was because the jewellery belonging to the victim had been found in his jacket in his home. Sirul also claimed that he signed the seizure list of the items in his home because he was ordered to do so by Zulkarnain. Earlier when he took the stand this morning, Sirul said an interrogating police officer had assured him the case would not be taken to court if he cooperated with them. Answering questions by Hasnul during examination in chief, Sirul claimed he did not make any disclosures in relation to the discovery of jewellery belonging to Altantuya. Sirul Azhar said he was taken aback when ASP Zulkarnain Samsudin instructed him to point to the jewellery placed on his jacket in his home. Hasnal Rezua: As far as you can recall, what was ASP Zulkarnain's instructions at the time? Sirul Azhar: He instructed, "point to the items". I asked him "what's this Tuan (Sir)? I refused to point to the items, but he insisted I do so, and said, "just point to it, Sirul."

Trial judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin then interjected and asked Sirul Azhar if he pointed to the items. Sirul Azhar said at first he did not, but after being instructed again by Zulkarnain, he relented and the police photographer took two snap shots of his pose. He said Zulkarnain, Chief Insp Koh Fei Cheow and a few other personnel, including an officer and two personnel from the UTK, were in his Kota Damansara home at that time.

Sirul Azhar said he was also instructed to hold up his jacket for photographs to be taken. He said the raiding officers led by Zulkarnain, had upon entering his flat, headed for his room and closed the door. He said when they called in after about five minutes; they were removing his jacket from the wardrobe and taking out the jewellery from the jacket pocket. Earlier, Sirul Azhar told the court upon his arrival from the Islamabad-Lahore-Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur journey with the head of the UTK unit ACP Mastor Mohd Ariff, he spent the night in the lock-up in the police station in Jalan Pantai, Brickfields. The following day, he was taken to a magistrate's court in Jalan Raja where an order was obtained for his remand.
He was later taken for interrogation by Zulkarnain in the serious crimes division in the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters. Sirul Azhar said Zulkarnain began to ask him questions in connection with the case, and he answered some of the questions while the others he could not answer.

Hasnal Rezua (ABOVE): During the session, did you tell ASP Zulkarnain that you wanted to make any disclosure?
Sirul Azhar: None at all.
Hasnal Rezua: As a police personnel, do you know what giving caution means?
Sirul Azhar: Yes, I do.
Hasnal Rezua: While you were in the room with ASP Zulkarnain, was any such caution made or read to you?
Sirul Azhar: No.
Hasnal Rezua: When you said you didn't know the answers to some of the questions, how did ASP Zulkarnain react?
Sirul Azhar: He raised his voice and continued to ask the same questions.
Hasnal Rezua: What transpired after that?
Sirul Azhar: He said, "why don't you speak the truth, tell me what you know. I know you are a police personnel, so in this case, we will try to help you so the matter will not be taken to court, so tell me."
He also said neither Zulkarnain nor the other officers asked him for his house address and he too did not lead or show the way to his flat when he was taken there last Nov 7.

During the questioning, Deputy Public Prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah (ABOVE) interjected and said the defence team was going beyond the purpose of the trial-within-a-trial and was attempting to adduce other evidence in support of their arguments.

"The defence ought to confine the statements to what was said during the interrogation and the two other statements made by the second accused (Sirul Azhar) at the time when the jacket was retrieved and when he pointed out the jewellery. They cannot go beyond," said Tun Abdul Majid.

Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin (ABOVE), who also represents Sirul Azhar, said by showing in narrative what transpired, they wanted to prove that the statement was obtained involuntarily.

Mohd Zaki (ABOVE) cut off the long winding submissions by both parties, before overuling the prosecution's objection and allowed the defence to continue.
He said he would make a ruling at the end of the prosecution's case.

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ABOVE: The father of Abdul Razak chatting with a police personnel and BELOW; daughter Rowena (Left) and wife Mazlinda (Centre) and family relative having a joint prayer session

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BELOW: Kamarul Hisham (Right) with Lawyers for Azirul

= == = and Bernama's version of Day 33 Trial, More mystery - jewelery planted into his jacket? And where do the Police obtained those Jewelery?

September 03, 2007 21:49 PM

I Was Forced To Show Altantuya's Jewellery, Sirul Tells Court

SHAH ALAM, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- The Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial resumed in the High Court here today after a three-week break with the second accused, Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar, telling a trial-within-a trial that the police forced him to show and pose for pictures with jewellery belonging to the Mongolian woman.

The Special Action Squad (UTK) officer denied he had revealed or provided information during interrogation by ASP Zulkarnain Samsudin on Nov 7 last year at the D9 (Serious Crimes Section) office of the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters, that he (Sirul Azhar) could show the jewellery allegedly kept at his home in Kota Damansara. Instead, Sirul Azhar said that apart from being threatened, Zulkarnain during the 20-minute interrogation also promised that he would assist to free him and not charge him in court if he (Sirul Azhar) followed his instructions.
"I consented as I thought what he (Zulkarnain) wanted to do would not affect me," he said in the trial-within-a trial that is being held to determine the admissability of Sirul Azhar's statement to Zulkarnain during the interrogation. In the case, C/Insp Azilah Hadri, 31, also a member of the UTK and Sirul Azhar, 36, are charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, at a location between Lots 12843 and 16735 in the Mukim of Bukit Raja near here between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year.
= = == Background, Letter found in Hotel Malaya, by Altantuya, - below

A verbatim transcript of the letter (including the foreigner's usual errors in spelling etc):

“To see your lover is nothing criminal right? Yes was in shoc I wrote some stupid letters to him where I said I kill myslef I want help. Yes I try to blackmail him. Maybe its my fault but noe I really understand he dosent lovers me anymore and I need to stop that I saked money from him to go back how he promised to me. He lied to me to help and ruin my life. I came to KL to see him to face to face and ask why acting like that. Maybe rich person and he got family doin this. But whne I come I did some thing stupid I write letter where I said I will kill myself and thing like that.
“ut now he got letter of mine and trying to scare me or kill me. He hide some Indians guys and always follow me they staying outside of my hotel. At Hotel Malaya Jalan Hang Leiku and coming to my room knocking the door. What going on between Mr. Razak Baginda and me its I hope our problem right in life many times happend this kind of situation.

“But he trying nowto scare me to put to jail. He got connection in government. He got connection in police and scaring me for 2 and half years I been his lover he promised so thats the why I came here. But now he got fake papers with my signature and dere not my passport number he trying to put me to jail. Of course his rich men he can do taht. But now life is in danger

“Im really scared to even go out. Because he have my letters and all proff if I die or cacth by police or go jail they can show that papers only reason I m here because he ruined my life with lies. But now he even trying to sent me awya with his friends and trying to scare me and kill me. Maybe I did wrong and balckmailed him but he trying to kill me. I want to go back saftely. Because of this mans I delay my ticket and now I m in trouble.

“I connected to embassy of Mongolia in Hong Kong its closes embassy to K.L told all story. I got friend here he help me but he said need to be careful because his rich man. Can everything do to me. Now he could easly kill me or put to jail ans says I did write letters I blackmaild him. So all proofness on my case can ask from embassy in Hong Kong or hotel where I stay. Its Hotel Malay one of the Indian man is Suraja, another one is Bala, they saying they proctect the boss but if they protect the boss if the do job why they follow me and knocking my door at 5am at morning and acting like friend.

“Why they asking me to pay money and asking to marry that Indian guy. They follow me from my hotel outside to any place I go. If they protect the boss why they saying to myp.ir that they can kill me? That Indain guy told me Mr. Razak is rich man he knows many people here so can easyly put e to jail. They say Malaysia is diferent from Monolia and said they know people in police so can easy put me to jail. If in Malaysia law goes like that I cant complane.
“But true is I didnt nothing to him I m just normal girl trying to meet my lover who lied to me and promised manty things but now wnat to put me ti jail or kill. Maybe its my fault to blackmail him but I got my own problem because of his lies and come to just see him. If its criminal to see my lover if its criminal what I did ill understand. But please check everything by law. If I made mistakeI ll never do again.”

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= = = = = =Watch the Video Clip (1.10min) - Day 33 - Altantuya Murder Trial

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see previous last Post H E R E ON

MORE PICS Video – SIL Khairy Pulling the String – To Follow Father-in-Law? Malaysia an Islamic state, a secular nation… or becoming a corporate state? Do we need holography to relive Tunku's Declaration Of Merdeka?

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other latest news

September 03, 2007 16:33 PM
Don't Confuse People About Bloggers' Influence, Zam Tells Press

ABOVE: Zam speaking at the launch of the latest Propaganda Tool, Radio 24 hrs (93.9 FM) that gives skewed news that matter to boast the image of the Government at all times at the expense of the Rakyat's money. Isn't the present strangle hold of the print & electronic media not enough? And he is fully aware that rural areas wield a greater power in political elections.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin has reminded the print media, especially newspapers, not to confuse the public about bloggers' influence. "A number of newspapers have created the impression that bloggers have a big influence on the people," he told reporters after the launching of Radio24 here today. He questioned the need of these newspapers to give credit to bloggers when the number of blogsite audience did not reflect the actual local readership.

"Who actually read bloggers' websites? Most of them are intellectuals while those in rural areas, who wield a greater power in political elections, do not read these websites," he said. Zainuddin said he did not believe bloggers had a big influence on the people as they lacked credibility. Zainuddin said the bloggers' credibility would disappear, especially when they joined certain political parties. Meanwhile, he said, the launch of Radio24 today was the government's new approach in disseminating information accurately and quickly. "I hope Radio24 will become a main media source for the public despite the stiff competition from the various media channels," he said. Earlier, Zainuddin launched the first news and information radio station in Malaysia, Radio24, that is run by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) through frequency 93.9fm.

= = = == from SUN

Zam attacks theSun again

SUN, PETALING JAYA (Sept 3, 2007): Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin attacked theSun for a second time today after launching Bernama's all-news radio station Radio24. Last week, Zainuddin, who was once editor-in-chief of Utusan Malaysia, had accused theSun of promoting the concept of Malaysian Malaysia, of being anti-Malay andsympathetic to the Democratic Action Party (DAP)

He made the accusation and took exception to Gerakan adviser and Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik describing theSun as the only newspaper that is truly non-racial in its news reporting. Torday, besides repeating his allegations that theSun was pro-DAP, he also said the newspaper supports Parti Keadilan and gave too much space to the views of young people

"He who is a supporter of Keadilan, those whose positions are against the government, youngsters, they will get a place in theSun," Zainuddin said. "Are they [theSun] the voice of DAP or Keadilan? I don't know. He also attacked internet bloggers and newspapers which treat bloggers as a source of information. "I don't understand why some newspapers want to project some of these websites as being crucial [and claim that they are] read by six million people. "Who are these six million? Foreigners?Are they read by people who determine the political power in this country?" he asked

= = == from the Ladies' Man.
September 03, 2007 14:36 PM

Civil Servants Can Take Up To Five Years Unpaid Leave To Look After Children

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Women civil servants can now take up to five years leave without pay to look after their children after exhausting their maternity leave. Previously the leave was capped at 90 days. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today the decision made by the cabinet on Wednesday takes immediate effect and is aimed at allowing the women employees to focus on caring for their children. The leave could be broken up and taken several times but the total must not exceed five years. "(This is) because in five years, you could lose your competency and you also will disrupt the planning for that particular organisation," he told reporters after presenting his keynote address at the 12th Civil Service Conference at the National Institute of Public Administration here.

Currently, female public sector employees can take 60 days maternity leave with full pay five times during their service. The 90 days' leave without pay to look after the child can only be taken from the 61st day after birth. The leave cannot be approved if it starts on the 62nd day and any portion of the 90 days not used is automatically forfeited. The leave is given five times during any employee's service. Najib said the new regulation was to ensure that mothers nurtured their children at an early age because good early guidance could produce useful citizens. He said those taking the leave without pay would receive notional increments three times within the five years. "This means that they can take five years. After they decide to return to work, they will receive three notional increments.

"If, for example, if her annual increment is RM50, then she will get three notional increments, that is RM150, added to the pay that she was getting before she took the long leave," he said. Najib also congratulated the Public Service Department (PSD) for coming up with the cabinet paper on the matter in such a short time after his proposal at the Women's Summit 2007 on Aug 2 that women workers in the country be given flexibility to leave the service temporarily to raise their children to prevent massive resignations from these workers. He said PSD Director-General Tan Sri Ismail Adam would issue a circular on the matter. Asked about the government's next move following the PSD's decision not to implement the voluntary separation scheme (VSS) to get rid of problem employees, Najib said the civil service was studying a suitable method unlike the one in the private sector and it needed fine tuning.

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UPDATE: DAY 34 – Altantuya Murder Trial

=== == = =ABOVE: Malaysiakini had a late report on the Trial (details H E R E) as they were bogged down with Parliament coverage
= = == = = == = =September 04, 2007 21:12 PM

Prosecution Challenges Credibility Of Defence Witness

SHAH ALAM, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- The prosecution in the Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial once again applied to the High Court here to be allowed to challenge the credibility of a witness, but this time it involved a senior police officer who had been called to be a witness for the defence. The application was made by the head of the prosecution team Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah after the the defence's third witness, DSP Mohd Yusri Hasan Basri, 33, gave testimony that was doubtful in a trial-within-a trial held to determine the admissibility of Sirul Azhar's statement to interrogating officer ASP Zulkarnain Samsudin which led to the discovery of Altantuya's jewellery at his house at Kota Damansara. Judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin allowed the proceedings for this to be conducted tomorrow. Sirul Azhar, 36, and Chief Inspector Azilah hadri, 31, are accused with murdering Altantuya, 28, in Mukim Bukit Raja between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year.

Political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 47, is charged with abetting them. On July 2, the prosecution did the same on its own witness, Lans Koperal Rohaniza Roslan because her testimony in court did not match the cautioned statement she had given to the police. Mohd Zaki said he would make a decision on it at the end of the prosecution's case. Earlier when giving testimony, Mohd Yusri, who is attached to the Federal Police's Special Action Squad (UTK), had mostly answered "don't know" and "not sure" to questions posed to him by both the prosecution and defence.

About 15 minutes into his testimony, Mohd Yusri said he had exceeded his limit in testifying after lawyer Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, who is representing Sirul Azhar, asked him to repeat an answer. He then tried to remain silent but Ahmad Zaidi persisted, with the judge joining in and telling him to answer, causing him to answer differently from before. First he had told the court that investigating officer C/Insp Koh Fei Cheaw had allowed him to bring out materials belonging to the UTK from Sirul's house after the police had checked the premises, then changed it to that Koh had allowed him to remove them.

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Sirul: Not the same keys

R. Surenthira Kumar; Sun; Updated: 08:28PM Tue, 04 Sep 2007

SHAH ALAM (Sept 4, 2007): A witness today denied that a set of keys to Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar's flat that was produced by the prosecution for identification were the same ones given to him earlier. Sgt Rosli Ibrahim (ABOVE), from the Special Action Unit (UTK)'s Communications section, said the bunch handed to him by the unit's chief, ACP Mastor Mohd Ariff, on Nov 6, 2006, contained "more than 10 keys". The set produced by the prosecution today had only three keys. Rosli, who is a squad mate of Sirul Azhar, told the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial that the bunch given to him had worn-out keys while the set showed to him yesterday looked new and shining.

The 36-year-old personnel who joined the force about 17 years ago with Sirul Azhar was replying to questions from Sirul Azhar's lawyer Ahmad Zaidi Zainal during a trial-within-a-trial to determine the admissibility of Sirul Azhar's statement to the police pertaining to jewellery belonging to Altantuya that were found in his flat.

Later, during cross-examination, Deputy Public Prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid (ABOVE) Tun Hamzah said the only reason Rosli claimed the keys were not the same as that he received from Mastor was that the set shown to him consisted of fewer than 10 keys. He then asked Rosli whether he had counted the keys. Rosli said he did not, but estimated it could have been more than 10 keys.

He also disagreed with Tun Abdul Majid that he could not ascertain whether there were about 10 keys or more than that, or whether they were seasoned or new, because he did not examine the keys. Rosli said when he received the keys, there were many and they were not shining.

Rosli earlier told the court he went to Sirul Azhar's home last Nov 7 on Mastor's order to hand over the keys to Chief Insp Koh Fei Chow from the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters (IPK KL)'s serious crimes division (D9). Rosli said he went with (then) ASP Yusri and Sgt Zafri Ismail, both from UTK, and waited for Koh and his team to arrive.

He said Koh and four to five personnel from IPK KL arrived about half an hour later with a photographer and a bomb disposal unit and they headed to Sirul Azhar's flat in Kota Damansara. After opening the padlock, grille and main door, Sirul Azhar was told to sit on a chair near the dining hall while Koh and the D9 personnel entered Sirul Azhar's room and shut the door. Rosli said he had told Koh about Mastor's directive to search and retrieve any property belonging to the police force and Koh agreed to allow him to do so. He said after a while, Koh called him into the room, and the three of them from UTK entered and closed the door behind them, after which a search was conducted. Rosli said he found some items belonging to the police and was given permission to take them back to Bukit Aman. However, he said he was not allowed to search the wardrobe in Sirul Azhar's room. Tun Abdul Majid also asked Rosli about Sirul Azhar's family background, especially on whether he knew Sirul Azhar was divorced and had two children, a daughter and a son. Rosli, who is also Sirul Azhar's supervisor, said he had visited Sirul Azhar and been to his flat and sympathised with what had happened to him. Tun Abdul Majid told judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin, the prosecution wanted to show to the court, Rosli was an interested party in the case. Tun Abdul Majid also said Rosli did not mention the UTK team's visit to Sirul Azhar's flat, when his statement was initially recorded. He only told them about it later when a third statement was recorded from him while the trial was ongoing in July. Rosli also refuted Tun Abdul Majid's suggestion that the UTK trio only entered Sirul Azhar's room after Koh and his team had completed their investigations and not at the same time as claimed by him.

= = = == = == = =September 04, 2007 18:12 PM

Colleague Sympathises With Accused

ABOVE Sergeant Rosli Ibrahim difficult task to testify against his colleague for 17 years?

SHAH ALAM, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- A close colleague of Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar told the High Court Tuesday that he sympathised with the accused for being charged with the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. Sergeant Rosli Ibrahim, 36, from the Bukit Aman Special Action Unit, said he had known Sirul Azhar for 17 years as they were in the same squad when they joined the Royal Malaysia Police. He was testifying in a trial-within-a-trial to determine the admissibility of Sirul Azhar's statement to interrogating officer ASP Zulkarnain Samsudin which led to the discovery of Altantuya's jewellery at his house at Kota Damansara. Rosli was called to testify to verify Sirul Azhar's contention that he was framed by the police who ordered him to identify the jewellery which had been placed in his black jacket.

Sirul Azhar, 36, and Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 31, are accused with murdering Altantuya, 28, in Mukim Bukit Raja between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year. Political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 47, is charged with abetting them. Earlier, when examined by Sirul Azhar's counsel, Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, Rosli said personnel from the serious crime division (D9) of the Kuala Lumpur police were near the cupboard in Sirul Azhar's bedroom where the jacket with the jewellery in it was found. He said the D9 personnel, whom he could not identify, were standing near the cupboard while Sirul Azhar was sitting on a chair at the dining table in the living room of the house and the door to the bedroom was closed.

Rosli said he was also in the bedroom at that time on the instruction of his superior, ACP Mastor Mohd Ariff, to check whether there were any properties belonging to the police. There were a few, including a piece of fire-proof clothing, two pieces of chemical-proof clothing and a bag containing, among others, elbow pad, knee guard and half harness, he said.

ABOVE & BELOW: 3rd Accused caught emerging from the lift on Day 34 Trial

= == = =Go H E R E for Day 35 Trial

MORE PICS & Video – Day 35 – Altantuya Murder Trial; DSP Mohd Yusri Feigned Nervousness & “DPP Threats” in Court’s Contradictory Testimony with Statement; Judge Query: Cannot remember 9 Months now at 10 months Can Recall vividly