THE STAR - Thursday, 21 June, 2007
(Page 1)

Razak’s family in tears before hearing

THE usually cheerful family members of Abdul Razak Baginda suddenly turned emotional yesterday at the sidelines of the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial, leaving onlookers curious and puzzled. 

Accused: Abdul Razak waving to his family members as he is escorted out of the Shah Alam High Court after Day 3 of the trial yesterday.

It began before the start of the proceedings when Abdul Razak, 47, spoke to his lawyer Wong Kian Kheong from the dock before he had a quiet chat with his wife Mazlinda Makhzan and daughter Rowena, 20. 

With tears welling, Rowena was heard pleading with her father: “It’s suicide, father. It’s stupid.” 

The political analyst, Mazlinda and the normally cool Rowena were seen in tears again during an hour-long break in the morning. 

Even Abdul Razak’s burly friend Mark from London could not hold back his tears. The analyst’s siblings had to step in to help him regain his composure as others in the courtroom looked on in wonder.  

Calm prevailed only during the proceedings when private investigator P. Balasubramaniam continued with his testimony. 

The 47-year-old former policeman identified accused C/Insp Azilah Hadri, 31, as the driver of the red Proton Wira who drove a Mongolian woman named Altantuya away from Abdul Razak’s house in Damansara on Oct 19 last year. 

She was not seen alive again after being driven away that day. 
 

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