Mongolia Protests Altantuya Ruling, Seeks Officer's Testimony and Answers After 20 Years

A Diplomatic Protest Over Compensation and Accountability

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 12, 2026: Mongolia has formally challenged Malaysia's handling of the Altantuya Shaariibuu case after an appeal ruling removed the Malaysian government's civil liability and cut compensation for her family from RM5 million to RM1.38 million.

Mongolia's Foreign Affairs Ministry delivered a diplomatic notice on Nov. 10 to Malaysia's ambassadors in Bangkok and Beijing. Its requests include fair consideration of the family's legal challenge, testimony from a convicted former police officer living in Australia, examination of new or previously unexamined evidence, and an official written response.

Zandanshatar Gombojav, a former Mongolian prime minister serving as special envoy for the case, outlined the demands in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 12. The diplomatic effort comes 20 years after Altantuya, a Mongolian interpreter and mother of two, was shot dead and her body destroyed with explosives in Selangor, outside Kuala Lumpur.

Her father, Dr Shaariibuu Setev, is challenging the Court of Appeal's Jan. 20, 2026 decision. A separate judicial review concerning the investigation of sworn statements by one of the convicted officers is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2027.

The dispute now runs along three connected tracks: the family's claim for compensation, efforts to examine further evidence about the killing, and negotiations over how an officer facing a Malaysian death sentence could give evidence while living in Australia.

What Mongolia Is Asking Malaysia to Do

Mongolia's diplomatic notice, known as a démarche, is a formal way for one government to raise concerns and request action from another. The notice was delivered through diplomatic missions accredited to Malaysia because Mongolia and Malaysia do not maintain embassies in each other's countries.

Zandanshatar said Mongolia respects Malaysian judicial independence and wants the proceedings to be decided fairly, transparently and on the evidence, without political or external interference. The four main requests are:

• Fair consideration of Shaariibuu's challenge to the ruling removing the Malaysian government's liability.
• Lawful arrangements for Sirul Azhar Umar, the convicted former officer in Australia, to testify, alongside stronger discussions about his possible return.
• Prompt examination of newly discovered or previously unexamined evidence, with updates to the family's lawyers.
• An official written account of developments and a substantive response to Mongolia's concerns.

Mongolia is seeking consideration of the father's challenge by Malaysia's Federal Court. Zandanshatar also called for cooperation that would allow Sirul to give evidence while complying with Malaysian and Australian law.

Why the Compensation Ruling Matters

The Shah Alam High Court ruled in December 2022 that the Malaysian government, former officers Sirul and Azilah Hadri, and political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda were liable in the family's civil lawsuit. It ordered them to jointly pay RM5 million for the shock and trauma associated with Altantuya's death.

The Court of Appeal removed the government's liability on Jan. 20, reasoning that the officers had acted outside the scope of their official duties. It left the three men liable and reduced damages to RM1.38 million, a figure also described in rounded terms as RM1.4 million.

The reduction amounts to RM3.62 million, or 72.4 percent of the original award. The revised sum is 27.6 percent of what the High Court awarded. For the family, the appeal changed both the amount of compensation and who would be legally responsible for paying it.

The central legal issue is vicarious liability. In simple terms, this asks whether an employer can be held responsible for harm caused by an employee in the course of work. Here, the question is whether the Malaysian government should share responsibility for the actions of two police officers.

Shaariibuu's challenge seeks to revisit the government's removal from the case. Criminal proceedings determine guilt and punishment, while the civil lawsuit concerns compensation and legal responsibility for the family's loss. Those different purposes explain why the family continues to pursue a civil claim years after the murder convictions.

Australia and the Barrier to Sirul's Return

Sirul has lived in Australia since leaving Malaysia in 2014, after the Court of Appeal acquitted him and Azilah. Malaysia's Federal Court restored their murder convictions and death sentences in January 2015.

His death sentence is a major obstacle to bringing him back. Australian law prevents the deportation of a person who faces execution. Sirul has sought asylum, although he has not been granted it.

Mongolia has asked Malaysia to intensify discussions with Australia and provide effective assurances against the death penalty as part of any lawful return arrangement. Zandanshatar said Mongolia was seeking accountability and testimony, rather than anyone's execution.

The envoy's request covers two related goals: obtaining Sirul's evidence in the civil proceedings and exploring his possible return to Malaysia. Any agreement would require legal procedures acceptable to both countries and a workable guarantee against execution.

Azilah's sentence has already changed. On Oct. 10, 2024, his death sentence was commuted to 40 years in prison and 12 strokes of the rotan, a cane used for judicial punishment in Malaysia. Sirul's outstanding death sentence leaves his position different from that of the officer imprisoned in Malaysia.

How the Case Reached This Point

Altantuya was 28 and pregnant when she was killed on Oct. 19, 2006. She had worked as a translator for Abdul Razak Baginda, with whom she had a relationship. Abdul Razak was a close aide to Najib Razak, who later became Malaysia's prime minister.

Sirul and Azilah belonged to an elite police unit and had served as Najib's bodyguards. Abdul Razak was tried separately and acquitted of abetting the killing. The principal legal and diplomatic developments span two decades:

• October 2006: Altantuya was shot dead in Selangor and her body blown up with military grade plastic explosives.
• 2009: Sirul and Azilah were convicted of murder and sentenced to death.
• 2013 to January 2015: The Court of Appeal acquitted the officers, Sirul left Malaysia in 2014, and the Federal Court subsequently restored both convictions and death sentences.
• December 2022: The Shah Alam High Court awarded the family RM5 million in civil damages.
• Oct. 10, 2024: Azilah's death sentence was commuted to imprisonment and caning.
• Oct. 16, 2025: The High Court allowed Shaariibuu to proceed with a judicial review concerning the investigation of Azilah's sworn statements.
• Jan. 20, 2026: The Court of Appeal removed the government's civil liability and reduced compensation.
• Nov. 10, 2026: Mongolia delivered its diplomatic protest.
• Jan. 12, 2027: The judicial review is scheduled to be heard.

The Sworn Statements Behind a Separate Court Action

Shaariibuu is also pursuing a judicial review aimed at requiring police to investigate an additional affidavit and a statutory declaration made by Azilah. An affidavit and a statutory declaration are formal written statements whose maker declares their contents to be true.

Azilah alleged in a 2019 statutory declaration that Najib had ordered the killing. Najib has denied involvement. Sirul has also made statements suggesting that the murder was carried out on orders from higher authorities. Who ordered the killing remains unresolved.

The High Court gave Shaariibuu permission to proceed with the judicial review on Oct. 16, 2025. Judicial review allows a court to examine how public authorities exercise their powers. In this case, the father is seeking an order requiring the authorities to complete their investigation and provide an update.

The hearing was postponed on Oct. 6, 2026, to Jan. 12, 2027. It is a separate proceeding from the family's challenge over compensation and government liability, although both concern the family's effort to secure fuller accountability.

Mongolia's demand for the examination of new or previously unexamined evidence places the investigative process alongside the civil appeal in its diplomatic requests. Updates through the family's lawyers would give relatives a formal channel for learning what action authorities have taken.

A Family Seeking Information and an Apology

Altantuya left two sons and parents who have continued seeking answers through changes of government, criminal appeals and civil litigation. Zandanshatar said he first became involved while serving as Mongolia's foreign minister and later continued the work as special envoy.

The former prime minister, who also serves on a government task force supporting the family, described the personal cost of the case in his statement:

Twenty years have passed, and her family has endured unimaginable loss without ever hearing the words, 'I am sorry.' A fair and final resolution of this case matters greatly to the trust between our two countries.

The family's requests extend beyond the size of the damages award. They concern an explanation of the killing, investigation of sworn allegations, access to information and a fair hearing on whether the government should share civil responsibility.

Zandanshatar also launched a public petition called Dignity for Altantuya, addressed to Malaysia and Australia. The campaign supports lawful accountability and clear information for the family, placing public advocacy alongside the court proceedings and diplomatic exchanges.

Mongolia Raises the Possibility of International Action

Zandanshatar said Mongolia could continue raising the matter internationally, including at the United Nations or potentially through the International Criminal Court. He also affirmed respect for Malaysian sovereignty and the independence of its courts.

The envoy cited the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations when explaining Mongolia's efforts to protect the interests of its national and her family. His immediate requests, however, remain directed at Malaysian authorities and cooperation with Australia.

Zandanshatar framed the protest as an appeal between friendly countries. In his statement explaining why Mongolia was raising the matter openly, he said:

Mongolia and Malaysia are friends, and it is because we value this friendship that we raise this matter openly and with respect.

The diplomatic notice asks Malaysia to answer in writing, creating a formal route for a response to the concerns raised in Bangkok, Beijing and Kuala Lumpur. Zandanshatar also mentioned possible communications involving Mongolia's attorney general and the parliamentary friendship group connecting the two countries.

What Happens Next

Jan. 12, 2027, is the next specified court date, for the judicial review concerning the investigation of Azilah's statements. The father is seeking action and information from the authorities through that proceeding.

The family's challenge to the January compensation ruling follows a different legal track. Mongolia wants fair consideration of that challenge, while asking Malaysia to examine evidence and pursue lawful access to Sirul's testimony.

No date was announced for a decision on the civil challenge, an official Malaysian response to the démarche, a confirmed meeting with Malaysian officials or an arrangement for Sirul's testimony or return. The immediate steps Mongolia seeks are a substantive written reply and further cooperation between the countries involved.

For Altantuya's family, those steps would address concrete needs: knowing what investigators have done, obtaining evidence from a convicted officer abroad, and having the courts consider whether the Malaysian government should share responsibility for their loss.

Key Points

• Mongolia delivered a diplomatic protest to Malaysian ambassadors in Bangkok and Beijing on Nov. 10, 2026.
• The family is challenging a ruling that removed the government's civil liability and reduced damages from RM5 million to RM1.38 million.
• Mongolia seeks fair proceedings, Sirul's testimony, examination of evidence and an official written response.
• Sirul remains in Australia, where his Malaysian death sentence presents an obstacle to his return.
• A separate judicial review concerning the investigation of Azilah's sworn statements is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2027.