High Court ruling frees Malaysian hitman who kidnapped and murdered pregnant model

A Malaysian hitman facing the death penalty in his home country is walking free in Canberra following the High Court of Australia’s ruling that holding people in indefinite detention is unlawful.

A Malaysian hitman facing the death penalty in his home country after he murdered and blew up the body of a political operative’s mistress is walking free in Canberra.

Sirul Azah Umar, a former bodyguard to the Malaysian Prime Minister, was released from Villawood Detention Centre late on Saturday afternoon and he is now staying with a family member in Canberra.

The 51-year-old former commando’s release came after a ruling by the High Court of Australia on Thursday that holding people in indefinite detention was unlawful.

When contacted, Umar’s Australian based immigration lawyer William Levingston confirmed his client had been released but declined to comment further.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles did not comment on Umar’s release and instead pointed to a general statement released earlier on Saturday that said the government was “considering other measures that may be appropriate to ensure community safety”.

Stills taken from a video statement made by Sirul Azah Umar which he allegedly filmed while in detention in Australia.

“He’s the worst of the worst when you look at the case that was proved against him,” said a source familiar with the situation.

“And now he’s walking around Canberra after the High Court’s decision.”

Umar fled to Australia after being sentenced to death over one of Malaysia’s most notorious crimes.

The former commando then had a claim for asylum in Australia rejected in 2019 and has been sitting in indefinite detention ever since because Australia would only deport Umar if Malaysia abolished the death penalty.

Umar was sentenced to death for the 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Altantuya was the lover of Razak Baginda, a Malaysian political analyst and close associate of ex Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak.

Undated photos of Malaysian political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda (left) and his lover Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was murdered in 2006. Picture: AP

Umar was found to have abducted Altantuya, who was pregnant at the time, before taking her to a clearing on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

The court ruled he then shot her and blew her body up using military grade explosives.

Sirul was convicted alongside another officer and sentenced to death but fled to Australia while on release pending an appeal.

In an interview last year with The Guardian, Sirul was quoted claiming that the murder was ordered by a party he did not name.

He was also quoted saying he participated in the abduction but not the murder. No motive has been established for the murder.

The Sunday Telegraph understands that following the High Court’s decision, the government is now processing cases of detention centre inmates and releasing them.

It is also understood that Umar, and others in his situation, are required to provide authorities with contact details, including a phone number and email address, and a place of residence prior to release.

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