Fugitive Sirul Azhar Umar cannot be considered to have committed a political crime even if it was accepted that his assassination of Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006 was instructed by the then Malaysian government, according to a decision by Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia deputy president Brian Rayment.

The definition was important for Sirul's appeal of asylum as a political crime would allow him to be considered for protection in Australia while a non-political crime would ultimately see his application rejected...