A Malaysian court has acquitted a prominent political analyst accused of abetting the gruesome killing of a Mongolian woman, the Associated Press reported.
Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, had been charged with abetting the slaying of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian interpreter who was shot and killed in October 2006. Two police officers have been on trial for allegedly 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, Zaki ordered the two policemen to enter their defense.
Abdul Razak had faced the death penalty if he had been convicted of killing Shaariibuu, with whom he had an eight-month affair.