SHAH ALAM (Jan 5, 2007): Political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah, charged with abetting two policemen in the murder of Mongolian interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu, was taken into police custody after his lawyer failed to file a formal application for extension of his bail.

Shah Alam High Court judge Datuk K.N. Segara refused to entertain Abdul Razak's lawyer Wong Kian Kheong's oral request for bail, resulting in many red faces as they were caught off guard.

"Sorry, I am not prepared to hear your request as no formal application was made with affidavits in support," said Segara to the awestruck lawyers and Abdul Razak's family members.

Since the RM1 million bail, granted on Dec 14 expired today, Abdul Razak, 46, was immediately taken into police custody.

As Wong frantically left the courtroom to prepare a formal application to be submitted to the judge, Abdul Razak was taken to the Sungai Buloh prison.

Later in the afternoon, Wong filed a formal application for Abdul Razak to be released on bail. The judge ficed Jan 19 to hear the application.

Segara also shot down Wong's application for an early trial date, based on his argument that the wide negative publicity generated by the case should merit for the case to be heard as soon as possible.

Segara, admitting that the case had received wide publicity, including overseas, said the court cannot cave-in to such requests, unless under execeptional circumstances.

He said publicity created is not a valid reason for the court to consider, unlike in cases where young people are on trial.

Segara said the courts did not carry out their job based on public or media sentiments or reports because their main aim is to ensure justice is served.

"I don't see any urgency in fixing an early date for this case. There's no point in setting an early date but the case does not take-off," said Segara.

He said the courts here had their hands full with about 135 cases pending hearing.

Segara said every one of those people under remand, some of them since 1997, has a right for his or her case to be heard accordingly and no preference can be given.

"Those waiting long for their case to be heard cannot be left in the cold at the expense of other cases which are registered much later," Segara added.

He said the earliest dates available are in March 2008 as the other cases in the list have been fixed for hearing the whole of this year.

He then set hearing for March 10 to 14, March 17 to 21, March 24 to 28 and March 31 to April 4 next year.

"But the parties involved, defence lawyers and DPPs must ensure that the case will go on without any interruptions, otherwise there's no point as requests for postponements will only cause more delays,," said Segara.

He then asked DPP Salehuddin Saidin the number of witnesses that the prosecution intends to produce and the time they will take to argue their case.

Salehuddin said about 30 to 40 witnesses will take to the stand and it would take them about a month to six weeks to wrap up.

Earlier, when the court started to hear the case mentioned, Segara ordered those standing to leave as the courtroom was packed.

Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 30, and PC Sirul Azhar Umar, 35, who are charged with killing the 28-year-old Mongolian were also present.

The charges were read again to the two policemen and Abdul Razak before the DPP asked for them to be tried jointly.

Meanwhile, lawyer Karpal Singh who is holding a watching brief for Altantuya's family, said the whole issue of courts being tied up with cases can be solved with the construction of more courtrooms, appointment of more judges and DPPs.

"I will raise the matter in the coming Parliament sitting," said Karpal Singh who is also Bukit Gelugor MP.

At about 5pm, an unidentified woman relative of Altantuya arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital mortuary where she signed some documents to claim the remains or bone fragments of Altantuya.