Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri has filed a notice of appeal today after the Shah Alam High Court yesterday found him and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar guilty of killing Altantuya Shaariibuu three years ago.

altantuya trial 160707 azilah The notice was filed by Azilah's counsel J Kuldeep Kumar at the Shah Alam High Court registry at 4.15pm today.

When contacted, Kuldeep confirmed that the application has been filed. Besides Kuldeep, Azilah is also represented by counsel Hazman Ahmad.

Lawyers acting for Sirul Azhar have yet to file the appeal which should be done within 14 days,

Sirul Azhar's lawyer, Hasnal Rezua Merican and Ahmad Zaidi Zainal had indicated yesterday they would file their appeal. It is learnt that the application would be filed on Monday.

Yesterday, Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin found Azilah and Sirul guilty for the murder of the Mongolian national.

Blaming each other

The two Special Action Force personnel were found guilty of murdering Altantuya, who was then 28, at Lot 12843 and Lot 16735 Mukim Bukit Raja in Puncak Alam, near Shah Alam between 10pm, Oct 19 and 1am, Oct 20, 2006.

In his verdict before a packed court room, Justice Mohd Zaki said the duo’s defence was one that blame the other and one of denial.

"Thus, they had failed to raise any reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case which I find to be a conclusive account of the physical and circumstantial evidence adduced before me.

"The prosecution has therefore successfully proven its case against both accused beyond any reasonable doubt. Accordingly, I find both of you guilty and convict you both as charged."

The case received overwhelming attention when political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda - a close aide of newly-minted Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak - was charged with abetting the murder.

However, he was later acquitted on Oct 31, 2008, and this sparked off a fresh round of speculations that the powers-that-be had a hand in it.

Since the case came to light, Najib has been forced to repeatedly deny having any links with the matter, which found its way to the pages of newspapers around the globe.