Malaysia begins trial in Mongolian murder case

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia, June 18 (Reuters) A Malaysian court began hearing arguments today in the trial of a prominent political analyst said to be involved in the murder of a Mongolian model, following a delay to change prosecutors.

Political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 46, a close aide of Malaysia's deputy prime minister, has been accused of involvement in the murder of 28-year-old Altantuya Shaariibuu in a case that spawned speculation about possible government links.

Shaariibuu was shot in the head twice and her body blown up with plastic explosives in a jungle outside the Malaysian capital last October.

Razak, who ran his own think-tank, was charged with abetting the murder while two policemen were charged with murder. All three have pleaded not guilty, but all face mandatory death by hanging if convicted.

''Razak abetted them by planning and giving instructions to get rid of the deceased by killing her,'' prosecutor Tun Majid Tun Hamzah told the court in his opening speech.

The prosecution had direct and circumstantial evidence to prove its claims beyond a reasonable doubt, he added.

People queued from 5.30 a.m. to make sure of securing seats in the courtroom, where public seating can accommodate just 120.

''Pray to Allah that right will be done,'' Razak's wife, who was present in the courtroom, told reporters. She wore a white T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan, ''Mrs Razak Baginda and proud of it''.

Lawyer Karpal Singh, who represents Shaariibuu's family, asked the trial judge, Mohamad Zaki Mohamad Yasin, to recuse himself over family ties to a defence lawyer, but the judge refused, vowing to maintain his impartiality and neurality.

The trial has been dogged by one controversy after another. The trial judge, the prosecution team and at least one defence lawyer have been replaced even before hearings began, prompting the country's opposition to condemn the delays.

''These manoeuvres ... will regrettably undermine public expectations that this trial will be fully transparent,'' opposition figure and former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said in a statement last week.

''The world and the Malaysian public want genuine answers in court as to how Altantuya was killed, for what reason and who was responsible for directing her killing?'' he added.

REUTERS RN PM1205