Malaysian police to investigate Al-Jazeera news agency over Altantuya murder documentary

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Malaysian policemen Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri, with their heads covered, are seen outside the Shah Alam High Court on Feb 4, 2009. PHOTO: SIN CHEW DAILY

KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The Malaysian authorities will probe international news agency Al-Jazeera over its report on the Altantunya murder, said the country's police chief Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

The Inspector-General of Police said that the Al-Jazeera documentary, which implicated Prime Minister Najib Razak, was based on hearsay.

"They are trying to cook up something by listening to people about things that are not true. We have completed the murder investigation, it went to court and was decided upon," he told a press conference after attending the International Meeting on Global Piracy, Armed Robbery and Maritime Security in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

The documentary aired last Thursday had raised allegations that murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu was somehow linked to Datuk Seri Najib.

However, Tan Sri Musa Hassan, who was the Inspector-General of Police during the investigation into the 2006 murder, said Monday the allegations were fictitious and not based on actual facts.

Khalid said the news organisation was trying to confuse the people by creating something out of nothing with its documentary.

"If there is enough evidence, then we will take action against Al-Jazeera. We will call up their representatives to record their statements," he said adding that police are aware of a few others who gave false statements to Jolly.

On the ongoing probe on Sarawak Report editor Brown, Khalid said Bukit Aman would resubmit its application to put her on the Interpol Red Alert List.

"We are in the midst of finalising our investigation papers on her. We will resubmit to Interpol once it is done," he said

On extraditing Xavier Justo, the IGP said the police were still awaiting the response from the Thai Government.

"It takes time as we have to go through the Thai Foreign Ministry so we must wait. Our investigation hinges on recording Justo's statement," he said.

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