Official Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia

Brutal murder of a Mongolian woman in Malaysia

In October 2006 Ms. Sh.Altantuya, a 28-year-old single mother of two small children, who had worked as a multilingual interpreter and translator for a Malaysian company, went on a business trip to Malaysia as she informed her parents. On October 19, 2006 at the residence of Mr. Baginda with whom she had a business association, she was captured by police and security officers. Since that time, she went missing. Malaysian police established that Altantuya was murdered on the same day in a jungle clearing outside of Kuala Lumpur, then exploded with explosives fastened to her body.

The Government of Mongolia, in accordance with its objective to protect the legitimate rights of its citizens abroad, has been working with the Malaysian government from the day of Ms. Sh.Altantuya's missing in Malaysia.

On the 9th of November 2006 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a verbal note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia expressing its deepest concern over the brutal murder of the Mongolian citizen, demanding extensive investigation and securing fair legal procedures with regards the offenders. On the 4th of December 2006 the Mongolia-Malaysia parliamentary group of the State Great Khural /Parliament/ of Mongolia made an appeal to the Members of the Parliament of Malaysia to observe due process of law in the police investigation and independent prosecution free from political pressure since the crime has allegedly involved influential political persons. On the 8th of December 2006 the Prime Minister of Mongolia sent to the Prime Minister of Malaysia a letter expressing his honest belief in conducting intensive investigation in order to prosecute and punish alleged criminals and accomplices in the murder as well as granting independent fair court procedure. On the 12th of December 2006 the Parliament's Subcommittee on Human rights held a special session on this case.

The Deputy Director of the Consular Department of the MFA of Mongolia attended the court mention from the 13th to 18th of December 2006 and the Embassy of Mongolia in Bangkok participated in the court mention from the 4th to 6th of April 2007 in Malaysia. They met several officials from the Malaysian Parliament, Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Police, Immigration Service and Ministry of Internal Affairs of Malaysia, expressing great concern of the Mongolian government. Moreover the National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia addressed a letter to the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia requesting "to make contribution to uncover this terrorizing case and bring proceedings against "bounty hunters" and guilty persons to justice". Representative from the Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia are expected to monitor the Court session in Malaysia to be held in June 2007.
Mongolian public, world community, and international and regional media pay particular attention onto episode of judgment of this case. The Mongolian Government continues to take all necessary measures in accordance with international law to protect the legitimate interest and human rights of its nationals. We do hope the court procedures will be fair and free from political influence.

2007-05-21