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SHAH ALAM: Explosions were heard from the direction of the place where Altantuya Shaariibuu was murdered, the High Court heard yesterday.

Senior investigating officer ASP Tonny Lunggan said two reserve police officers on duty in the area were at a guard post at the foothill on Oct 19, 2006, when they heard the explosions.

He said according to their statements, they heard a lot of explosions that night.

"The crime scene is also a jungle area and is quiet," Tonny said under cross-examination by counsel Datuk Hazman Ahmad, who is representing first accused Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri.

"The statements said explosions were heard but they were like fireworks as it was a festive season, but I cannot remember if it was Hari Raya or Deepavali," Tonny said, adding that to him, fireworks and bomb explosions sound alike.

Asked if the two reserve police officers saw any flashlights or felt something amiss that night, the witness said they were never asked this question.

Hazman: Who were the two reserve police?

Tonny: Abd Rehmi Abd Razak and Mustaffa Umat.

Tonny also admitted he did not measure how far the guard post was from the crime scene. "To me, it was far as the incident occurred on the hill while the guard post was at the foothill."

The witness admitted that he neither recorded statements from the owner of the lot or the area caretaker, nor drew a sketch plan. He, however, denied that his failure to do this was to hide certain information.

Hazman: Your failure to talk to the caretakers or the land owner also shows you would not know what may have happened at the area before the incident. Maybe another similar murder case or other cases may have occurred in the area.

Tonny: Yes, I would not know.

On Altantuya's personal belongings, the witness said it was kept by her cousin, Burmaa Oyuchimeg.

Hazman: Don't you think it is important for you to investigate her belongings?

Tonny: The items were not important to me.

(On May 6, Tonny told the court that handwritten memos and notes were found in Altantuya's bag. The notes were given to him by her father, Setev Shaariibuu).

He also agreed with Hazman's suggestions that Azilah did not know the victim or her cousin, and had never met them before Oct 19.

Hazman: Do you know that a week before the victim was reported missing, Azilah was in contact with two senior officers -- DSP Idris (Abdul Karim) and DSP Musa Safri?

Tonny: I only know they were in touch after the incident.

Hazman: Do you agree that your investigations were concentrated on prosecuting Azilah in court?

Tonny: I disagree.

(On Wednesday, however, Tonny agreed to this suggestion when asked by counsel J. Kuldeep Kumar, who is also representing Azilah).

Azilah, 32, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 37, are charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, in Bukit Raja in October 2006. Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, 48, is charged with abetting them.

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