Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri's wish to live a normal life outside the prison walls after being remanded for seven years, finally came true today after the Court of Appeal disharged and acquitted him of the charge of murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Azilah, 37, who was met by Bernama before the court gave the verdict said physically, he had not changed since he was charged but spiritually he felt "too small" and wished to be home now.
Azilah, who was accompanied by prison officers during the court proceeding, appeared to be surprised when the decision of the three-member panel led by Court of Appeal judge Datuk Seri Mohd Apandi Ali, was read out.
Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, who was jointly charged with Azilah, however managed to utter, "Thank you, Your Honour," before both were taken out of the dock.
Outside the courtroom, Azilah, his voice shaking, said he was grateful to Allah as his prayers had been answered. "I am still nervous," he said.
"I need to go back to Kajang Prison to thank those who had taken care of me there...they took good care of me. I want to perform my Friday prayers and sort out other matters after that," he added.
In 2009, the Shah Alam High Court convicted and sentenced to death Azilah and Sirul Azhar, who were from the police special action unit, for murdering Altantuya, 28, in Mukim Bukit Raja, Shah Alam between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20, 2006.
Azilah's fiancee Nor Azila Baharuddin, 35, was seen to be in tears upon hearing the Court of Appeal's decision.
She said Allah had answered hers and their families' prayers for Azilah to be freed one day.
Nor Azila said they got engaged in 2006 and since Azilah faced the murder charge the same year, she never gave up and visited him in prison once a week.
"I was trembling upon hearing the court's decision. I couldn't believe it at first, but I am really happy as this is the moment I have been waiting for. Shawal this time is beautiful," she added.
Since they were charged and on trial, Azilah and Sirul Azhar had always covered their faces when they were outside the court and only removed the cloth covering their faces when inside the courtroom.
Usually, Sirul Azhar appeared serious and preferred to be alone for much of the time, compared with Azilah who was friendly and chatty with the people around him.
However, after the court's decision today, Sirul Azhar's mood changed and he was seen smiling at his family members who sat behind him.
Approached by Bernama before he and Azilah were brought back to the prison for the release process, Sirul Azhar showed a friendly side and expressed his gratefulness for the outcome of the case.
"I am grateful to Allah that everything is over now. I thank my lawyers who defended me and also my family, especially my mother, who never stopped praying for me. I intend to continue leading a normal life after this," he said.
His 13-year-old son was visibly delighted with the father's release. The teenager who was accompanied by two family members, managed to tell his father how much be missed him.
Sirul Azhar's uncle, Mustapha Samat from Ipoh, said since his nephew was charged with murder, he managed to attend the court hearing three times and that he had kept praying that the former would be freed.
Mustapha, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, was seen contacting his other family members to inform them of the court's decision.
Bernama
Fri Aug 23 2013
PDRM gerak unit skuba forensik, K9 cari telefon, rantai Nur Farah Kartini hari ini
Proses mencari bahan bukti akan dimulakan sekitar jam 9 pagi di kawasan parit berhampiran ladang kelapa sawit berkenaan.
Bangkai pesawat MH17 tanpa sayap imbau kekejaman tragedi menyayat hati
Keadaan serpihan pesawat MH17 Malaysia Airlines (MAS) yang cuba dibina semula tanpa sayap, tayar, ekor dan tempat duduk penumpang cukup menggerunkan sekali gus mengingatkan pada kekejaman yang meragut
VOP akan diselesaikan dalam tempoh sebulan - Ahmad
Pelaksanaan Syarat Perubahan Harga (VOP) susulan penyasaran subsidi diesel dijangka diselesaikan dalam tempoh sebulan lagi, kata Timbalan Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
Industri minyak sawit disaran guna semula sisa untuk bahan api penerbangan mampan - Liew
Industri minyak sawit perlu mengkaji penggunaan semula sisa sebagai stok suapan penting untuk bahan api penerbangan mampan (SAF), di luar penggunaan tradisional minyak sawit.
SDG: UTP lahir pelajar berkemahiran, tinggi tanggungjawab sosial
UTP berhasrat mendidik pelajar bukan sahaja untuk mahir dalam aspek teknikal tetapi juga untuk menjadi warganegara yang bertanggungjawab.
MAA semak semula unjuran jualan kenderaan 2024 kepada 765,000 unit
Persatuan Automotif Malaysia (MAA) telah menyemak semula unjuran jualan kenderaan bermotor baharu bagi 2024 kepada 765,000 unit daripada anggaran sebelumnya sebanyak 740,000 unit.
RUU 355: Pindaan perlu untuk praktikaliti, keadilan
Apa sahaja pindaan terhadap akta itu perlu berjalan selari dengan persediaan mereka yang bertanggungjawab melaksanakannya.
Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA
SAMENTA menjangkakan rasionalisasi RON95 akan memberi impak yang lebih besar kepada perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) berbanding pelarasan subsidi diesel.
Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030
Malaysia menyasarkan pengeluaran 40 peratus hasil sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030 dalam usaha membantu mengimbangi keperluan perikanan negara.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Sirul perlu mohon semakan hukuman mati – Saifuddin
Ia juga menyukarkan usaha untuk menyiasat dakwaan Sirul bahawa dia menerima RM1 juta bagi menutup mulut dalam kes pembunuhan Altantuya Shaariibuu pada 2006.
Sirul hanya boleh dibawa ke Malaysia jika ada permohonan semakan hukuman mati - KPN
Malaysia hanya boleh mengemukakan extradisi ke atas Sirul Azhar Umar yang disabitkan membunuh, Altantuya Shaariibuu sekiranya bekas anggota polis itu membuat permohonan semakan ke atas hukuman mati.
Pembunuhan Altantuya: Dakwaan Sirul jadi kambing hitam tak pernah dibangkitkan di mahkamah - KPN
Dakwaan bekas anggota polis, Sirul Azhar Umar yang disabitkan membunuh Altantuya Shaariibu telah dikambing hitamkan untuk menutup mulut tidak pernah dibangkitkan di mahkamah.
Sirul akui terima RM1 juta untuk tutup mulut
Dakwanya, dia dijadikan kambing hitam dan terperangkap dalam permainan politik serta mengakui menerima RM1 juta ketika berada di Australia.
Sirul masih dalam senarai notis merah Interpol - Pengarah JSJ
Notis merah belum dibatalkan memandangkan pihak berkuasa masih berusaha membawa pulang Sirul ke Malaysia.
Sirul mohon maaf kepada keluarga Altantuya, rayu tinggal di Australia
Sirul dakwa bahaya menantinya jika kembali ke tanah air dan mengaku terima RM1 juta daripada sumber yang tidak dinamakan.
Keputusan bawa pulang Sirul Azhar akan dibincang - KPN
Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Razarudin Husain mengesahkan Sirul Azhar dibebaskan dari Pusat Tahanan Imigresen Villawood di Sydney, Australia, semalam.
Sirul Azhar bebas tahanan imigresen Australia
Sirul Azhar telah meringkuk dalam tahanan imigresen di Australia sejak tuntutannya untuk suaka di negara itu ditolak pada 2019.
Keluarga Altantuya rayu naikkan ganti rugi RM5 juta
Dalam notis rayuan yang difailkan pada 16 Jan tahun ini, keluarga Altantuya membuat rayuan balas terhadap sebahagian daripada keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi berhubung kuantum ganti rugi.
Kes saman Altantuya: Kerajaan, Razak Baginda fail rayuan
Kerajaan memfailkan notis rayuan di Mahkamah Rayuan Isnin lepas manakala Abdul Razak pada Selasa lalu.