Kuala Lumpur, Jan 13 (IANS): Malaysia's Federal Court Tuesday upheld the conviction and death sentence of two policemen for murdering a Mongolian model in 2006, a case that is linked to the country's purchase of two submarines from France.

Sirul Azhar Umar, 43, and Azilah Hadri, 38, both members of the special police force, were sentenced to death in 2009 for murdering translator and Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The court of appeal overturned the ruling Aug 23, 2013, Xinhua reported.

Altantuya was allegedly the lover of political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, a close confidant of Najib, who was then Malaysia's deputy prime minister and defence minister. Altantuya was at the centre of alleged heavy kickbacks in submarine deal.

Baginda was jointly charged with them and was acquitted by the high court Oct 31, 2008, after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

The prosecution did not appeal against his acquittal.

Justice Suriyadi Halim Omar, who read the judgment Tuesday morning, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case against the two accused beyond reasonable doubt.