There has been a new twist to the case involving political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda who was charged with abetting in the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Instead of being heard March next year, it has been moved forward and a date will be set by the Shah Alam High Court this Friday.

According to Bernama, counsel Zulkifli Noordin said the case, which was previously heard by Judge K N Segara, will now be heard before judicial commissioner Mohd Zaki Md Yassin.

No reason was given.

Zulkifli is representing two policemen, C/Insp Azilah Hadri, 30, and Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, 35, who were accused of killing Altantuya.

The case was earlier expected to heard before the Shah Alam High Court in 13 months as Segara had on Jan 5 this year fixed four days beginning March 10 next year for trial.

It was learnt that Abdul Razak had sent a letter to the Shah Alam High Court to expedite the trial.

Death sentence

Abdul Razak, 46, is accused of abetting Azilah and Sirul Azhar to commit the murder.

Altantunya was said to have been shot and her remains later blown up with explosives. The remains were found at a forest area in Puncak Alam in Shah Alam on Nov 6 last year.

He allegedly committed the offence between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18 at Level 10, Bangunan Getah Asli, in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. This is the official address of the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre, which Razak heads.

Azilah and Sirul Azhar, both from the special unit force were accused of murdering Altantuya in Lot 12843 and Lot 16735, Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10 pm, Oct 19 and 1 am, Oct 20 last year.

Abdul Razak, who is known to have close ties with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code, read with Section 302 of the same code, which carries the mandatory death sentence, if convicted.

Last week, Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim said criminal cases in the Shah Alam High Court fixed next year would be brought forward to this year.