RMAF: Stolen Jet Engines Set to Return from Uruguay

02 Oktober 2010

F-5E Tiger of the RMAF (photo : Militaryphotos)

KUALA LUMPUR, —The Uruguay court has ruled that the two stolen F-5E engines which are in the custody of the Uruguay government are the properties of the Malaysian government.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he was informed about it by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail three days ago.

“We will be sending senior officers from the Malaysian Armed Forces and the Attorney-General’s Chambers to Uruguay to retrieve the engines.

“The Attorney General’s Chambers will translate the Uruguay court’s decision which is Spanish to English to ensure that the ruling is not misunderstood and this will take about one week,” he told reporters at an Aidilfitri open house hosted by the Defence Ministry here today.

Ahmad Zahid said the process of bringing home the engines would be facilitated by the International Affairs Division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

He said the process was a positive development in the management of the case and each step would have to take into account the repercussion on the ongoing prosecution.

The process of retrieving the engines shows good ties between the two governments as well as the close cooperation between the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the police, he added.

Ahmad Zahid denied that the two jet engines, which were reported missing from two RMAF facilities on Dec 20, 2007 and Jan 1, 2008, were worth RM100 million, instead they were merely valued at RM2.45 million.

(Bernama)