The extradition process of murder convict Sirul Azhar Umar from Australia is delayed because it involves “complicated legal issues”, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Malaysiakini this morning reported Sirul’s lawyer confirming that the Attorney-General’s Chambers has yet to commence an extradition request with Canberra, although the conviction was on Jan 13 and he was arrested on Jan 22.

In the written reply to Ramkarpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), the minister said it is in the process of commencing extradition proceedings.

However, it will be a lengthy process despite the extradition treaty between Malaysia and Australia signed in November 2005, he said.

“(The) process will take time because it involves complicated legal matters which need to be handled with care.

“Besides foreign policy and laws, the government’s efforts to extradite Sirul also involves human rights issues as not all countries support the death penalty,” Ahmad Zahid said.

In response, Ramkarpal ( right ), who is also lawyer for victim Altantuya Shaariibuu’s family said the government should at least submit a formal request for extradition.

Expressing shock over the delay, he noted that Sirul, his colleague and fellow murder convict Azilah Hadri and analyst Abdul Razak Baginda are all respondents to a civil suit over the murder.

“It would be a great injustice to the family of the victim if serious efforts are not taken urgently to bring Sirul back to face the punishment as ordained by the Federal Court,” he said in a statement.

If an extradition request is filed, an application will have to be made for Sirul to appear before a magistrate in Australia for the extradition request to be heard.

 

It is learnt that Sirul has yet to be brought before the magistrate’s court.

 

Sirul had previously threatened to “reveal all” about the high profile murder of the Mongolian national to the Australian media.

Azilah and Sirul were found guilty of the murder of Altantuya by the Federal Court, following an appeal by the AG’s Chambers, after the Court of Appeal acquitted them in 2013.

The government yesterday said the AG’s Chambers did not appeal Razak Baginda’s ( left ) acquittal for the abatement for the 2006 murder because there were “no strong testimonies” to link him to it.

Razak Baginda was a close associate to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Altantuya had reportedly assisted in a deal involving Perimekar, a company of Razak Baginda’s wife, to buy submarines for the Defence Ministry when Najib was defence minister.