Malaysian court acquits political analyst over Mongolian murder

Abdul Razak Baginda, who was the political adviser of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, had been put on trial for charges of abetting the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian interpreter, in October 2006.

Two police officers were also charged with carrying out the killing.

High Court Judge Mohamad Zaki Yasin ruled Friday that the prosecution had failed to establish a case against Abdul Razak.

However, Judge Zaki ordered the two policemen to enter their defence.

Abdul Razak, who admitted he had an affair with Altantuya, left the courtroom with his wife and daughter Friday morning.

"I just want to go home," he told reporters.

The analyst would have faced the death sentence if he had been found guilty of the murder.

The lengthy trial had gone on for 151 days, during which 84 prosecution witnesses have testified.

The murder grabbed the headlines when it was revealed that Altantuya, 28, was shot and her body then blown up using military grade explosives.

A prominent blogger later published an article implicating Najib and his wife in the murder.

Najib has denied the allegations.

The blogger, who is currently detained under a security law after his articles were said to be a threat to national security, is facing an ongoing sedition trial over his article implicating Najib's links in the Mongolian woman's murder.//Deutsche Presse-Agentur - October 31, 2008