3 arrested for sending birthday cake to PM's office

Three activists were arrested this morning for attempting to deliver a cake commemorating the 31st birthday of Altantuya Shaariibuu to the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya.

The activists, all from the Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), were detained at 11.15am by the police near the security booth in front of the building.

About 30 police officers and 10 light strike force personnel were deployed to stop the activists from entering the building.

Those arrested were Sani Md Shah - who was holding a butter cake topped with white icing - Saufi Mihat and Yasir Sheikh Abdul Rahman, both of whom were carrying a ‘Happy Birthday Altantuya’ banner.

The square cake, weighing about 2kg, was squashed by the police as it was being confiscated.

According to the police, the cake was seized for ‘security reasons’.

The detainees were taken in a police car to the police headquarters in Putrajaya.

SAMM had intended to also deliver a letter to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak written by Altantuya’s father, Setev.

In his letter, initially written in Mongolian, he congratulated Najib on his appointment as premier but stressed the fact that the grisly murder case has yet to be solved.

"The relationship between the two countries has suffered, and there is an improbable situation continuing due to a murder case of my daughter Altantuya," he wrote.

"The matter requires focusing now on my two orphaned grandsons - the sons of Altantuya. We need a solution to the civil suit I'd filed against you (Najib), the Malaysian government and the police.

"I would like to calm down my daughter's spirit by conducting a funeral for her, which I have not done, (and it will not be done) until all issues surrounding my daughter's death is settled."

Two more arrested

In a related development, the police arrested PKR supreme council member Badrul Hisham Shaharin and another person when they went to deliver food to the detained trio at 2pm.

Both were held for questioning for about three hours and were released at 4.45pm.

Prior to his arrest, Badrul, who is SAMM coordinator, said that Altantuya's murder reflected poorly on the country's image and badly on the new premier despite his repeated rejection of allegations that linked him to Altantuya.

"There is an attempt to close the case by labelling Altantuya as someone's mistress when there are doubts and unanswered questions," he said.

Badrul, also known as Chegubard on his blog , slammed the authorities for not discovering "the real murderer" and instead prosecuting those who had been "hired" to kill Altantuya.

He added that a royal commission of inquiry should be established to probe the discrepancies linking Najib and other prominent figures.

"I don't want the image of our prime minister tarnished internationally," Badrul added.

Altantuya was shot twice in the head and her body blown up with military-grade explosives in a jungle clearing three years ago. She was 28 when she died.

Her former lover, Abdul Razak Baginda, who is a close associate of Najib, had been accused of ordering two police officers to kill her after she came to his family home to harass him for money.

Razak Baginda was initially charged with abetting the two men - who were part of a security detail to protect VIPs including Najib - but was acquitted last October.

The two officers, however, have been found guilty and sentenced to death. They are appealing the ruling.

Najib has repeatedly denied any links with Altantuya, who was reported to have a role in the arms purchase in France several years ago, when the former was defense minister.

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