Cradle CEO murder trial: Nazrin was able to save himself if he was conscious, says fireman

SHAH ALAM: A fireman testified that Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Nazrin Hassan (pic) may have been able to save himself if he had been conscious.

Tanhoss Bah Agem said it was just a small fire in the deceased’s room and that it was put out in just two minutes.

“The room was also big. He could have gone to any corner and saved himself.

“I saw most of the smoke moving upwards and the smoke in the room was not even up to the waist, ’’ said Tanhoss when questioned by lead defence counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah in High Court on Friday (Nov 29).

The fireman added that Nazrin could have escaped the fire had he been conscious.

(Only the mattress and bed were burnt in the fire which did not spread to the rest of the room)

Muhammad Shafee also asked the witness about the condition of the deceased’s remains, which Tanhoss described as "stiff and motionless".

Earlier this month, Tanhoss testified that Nazrin’s body was not akin to that of other victims who had died in a fire.

He also said then that based on his experience, those who died in a fire would be found in various positions as they usually tried to save themselves right until the final moment.

Muhammad Shafee then asked the fireman if a victim’s body could be in various positions - as opposed to being rigid and motionless - in the event he woke up in shock or had fallen, and had a fatal blow to the head.

“For example, if he fell and his skull cracked, is it possible for his body to be found that way?”

Tanhoss: Not sure.

Muhammad Shafee: So, when you say bodies are found that way, you can’t say the exact position of the body?

Tanhoss: I don’t know.

Muhammad Shafee: So, because you don’t know, your observation in other cases cannot be used in this case?

Tanhoss: Yes.

Nazrin’s widow Samirah Muzaffar, 44, and two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, as well as Indonesian national Eka Wahyu Lestari, who is still at large, have been accused of murdering him at a house in Mutiara Damansara, between 11.30pm on June 13 and 4am on June 14 last year.

They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Act.

The offence, carries the mandatory death sentence, upon conviction.

The two boys were granted bail of RM50,000 in two sureties by the Shah Alam High Court in March, while the Federal Court allowed Samirah bail of RM500,000 in two sureties in May.

Muhammad Shafee also grilled Tanhoss on his statement to the DPP recently, in which the witness said he had seen one of the juveniles, implicated in the case, going upstairs to take something from the room while Nazrin’s remains was still there.

Tanhoss had not said this in his report to the Fire and Rescue Department, as well as in his statement to the police.

Muhammad Shafee then accused Tanhoss of lying about the juvenile going upstairs to the room, in order to cover up for the policemen and firemen, who were accused of lifting some valuables from the bedroom.

“I put it to you that you are lying to cover up to help the Bomba (Fire Department). You are a victim and you are not aware of it, ’’ said the lawyer.

At this juncture, Tanhoss said he had no comments.

Muhammad Shafee also said that Samirah had lodged a police report that she was not satisfied with the investigation and about some missing cash and a Swiss watch.

The hearing resumes next Monday (Dec 2) before Justice Datuk Ab Karim Ab Rahman. - Star