In TAWAU, the trial of six policemen and a civilian, accused of killing an ehailing driver, began on Jan 2. The prosecution will present evidence that the murder took place on Jan 13 last year, when the deceased was lured out of a hotel in Tawau and taken to an oil palm plantation where he was killed.
The High Court proceedings on Tuesday included four witnesses called by the prosecution. One of the witnesses, Kereiun Elbis, was the first to come across the body of the ehailing driver, Nurman Bakaratu, and a car at the Liew Tet Chung Estate on Jan 16 last year.
The second witness was the manager of the estate, Liew Tet Chung, who saw the car from a distance and later discovered the body. A post-mortem revealed that the cause of death was “sharp force injury to the neck,” and stab and incisional wounds were observed.
According to the charges, the accused policemen and civilian are accused of murdering Nurman in an oil palm plantation near Jalan Anjur Juara, Jalan Apas Baru 5, Tawau, between 7.30pm and 11.30pm on Jan 13 last year. If convicted, they face the death penalty.
Former Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) Head of Intelligence Staff SAC Datuk Mat Zaki Md Zain is accused of abetting the murder and faces two charges of conspiring to kill Nurman. The prosecution is assisted by several lawyers, each representing the accused.
The trial continues on Jan 3. – Bernama
