The former head of Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) intelligence, SAC Datuk Mat Zaki Md Zain, along with seven other individuals, has been acquitted of the murder of ehailing driver Nurman Bakaratu, 61, after Nurman’s ex-wife confessed to the crime while testifying in court.
Tawau High Court Judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol ordered their immediate release following the application of Deputy Public Prosecutor Khairul Azreem Mamat to not proceed with the prosecution under Section 254 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Nurman’s ex-wife, Nurimah Julai, admitted to killing him at Jalan Anjur Juara, Batu 5 Jalan Apas, around 8pm on Jan 13 last year. This confession led to the stated decision by the court. Mat Zaki, 58, along with six policemen and a civilian, had been charged with the murder of the ehailing driver on July 7.
According to the charges, Mat Zaki was accused of conspiring with John Kennedy Sanggah to kill Nurman, 61, in a palm oil plantation near Jalan Anjur Juara, Jalan Apas Batu 5, Tawau between 7.30pm and 11.30pm under Section 109 of the Penal Code read with Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Prior to that, Mat Zaki was also accused of conspiring with six other individuals to kill Nurman at the same time and place.Tawau High Court Judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol ordered their immediate release following the application of Deputy Public Prosecutor Khairul Azreem Mamat to not proceed with the prosecution under Section 254 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
As a result of Nurimah Julai’s confession, the case against Mat Zaki and the other accused was dismissed. Nurman was killed at Jalan Anjur Juara, Batu 5 Jalan Apas on Jan 13 last year, and the accused have now been acquitted.
