Cradle Fund case witness says mobile phones did not explode

 

Nazrin Hassan’s widow, Samirah Muzaffar, and two teenage boys, are on trial accused of murder.

SHAH ALAM: A witness in the Nazrin Hassan murder case told the High Court today that two mobile phones retrieved from the scene did not suffer an explosion, based on their physical condition.

Former Selangor police contingent weapons officer Mohd Sa’ad Mat Nasib, 61, said checks on the mobile phones handed to him by the investigating officer showed that both of the devices had not exploded as their batteries were still intact.

Sa’ad, who is the 35th prosecution witness, said the first mobile phone was in 90% good condition with burn marks spotted on it from the heat of a fire while the second mobile phone was badly burnt.

“Even though the second mobile phone was badly burnt, the battery was still intact. Therefore, I don’t think there was a strong explosion because if it happens, the batteries will come out of their holder.

“The shape of the battery can still be identified. The iron pieces in the battery holder were still in good condition,” he said when responding to a question by deputy public prosecutor Tengku Intan Suraya Tengku Ismail before Judge Ab Karim Ab Rahman here.

Mohd Sa’ad said if the mobile phone battery which is made of lithium and wrapped with zinc-like material was overcharged, it will produce a gas that can generate sparks or cause a fire.

“A mobile phone battery usually has several components. In the event of a strong explosion, the battery will come out of its holder,” said the witness who was also formerly with the police bomb disposal unit.

Mohd Sa’ad said based on his knowledge, if the battery of a mobile phone exploded while charging, with the screen facing up, the device would be thrown up to two feet high as a result of the explosion.

Nazrin Hassan, chief executive of government-owned Cradle Fund, was found dead in his house in June 2018.

His wife, Samirah Muzaffar, 44, a former senior executive at the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia, and two teenagers, aged 17 and 14, have been charged with his murder, along with Indonesian citizen, Eka Wahyu Lestari, who is still at large.

They were alleged to have committed the offence at a house in Mutiara Homes, Mutiara Damansara, between 11.30pm on June 13, 2018, and 4am on June 14, 2018.

The hearing continues on March 1. - FMT