Abdul Razak Baginda is a high-profile political analyst

Abdul Razak Baginda, 46, appeared before a magistrate charged with abetting murder. His wife protested her husband's innocence in court.

Model Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, is reported to have been shot before her body was blown up with explosives.

Two police officers, a chief inspector and a constable, were charged over the murder on Wednesday.

A third police officer and two private investigators have been released on bail.

Packed court

The sensational case has gripped the country.

Abdul Razak Baginda, the head of a local think tank who has advised government ministers, has been in custody since he was detained more than a week ago.

He is accused of conspiring with the two policemen, Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar, to murder Ms Shaariibuu.

Mr Abdul Razak - like the other two defendants - did not enter a plea when the charges were read out in the packed court in Kuala Lumpur. The crime is punishable by death.

But his wife, Mazlinda Makhzan, protested his innocence. "He is a good man. I don't know why you are doing this to him," she told the court.

Mr Abdul Razak's lawyer earlier confirmed that his client knew the dead woman but denied the two had a romantic relationship.

However, local newspapers have reported that she came to Malaysia seeking help with her young son's medical bills.

She was allegedly last seen outside the analyst's house last month being bundled into a vehicle by policemen.

Further reports say she was shot twice in the head and her remains blown up using C4 plastic explosives, which are normally only available to the security forces.