I couldn’t recognise my father, says witness in Tawau murder trial

 

Seven people stand accused at Tawau High Court of murdering e-hailing driver Nurman Bakaratu one year ago. (Bernama pic)

TAWAU: The son of an e-hailing driver, murdered in an oil palm plantation, told the High Court here today that initially, he could not recognise his father because of the condition of the remains.

However, Norazrie Nurman, 36, said he later identified his father based on various characteristics.

Nurman Bakaratu, 61, was murdered on Jan 13 last year and his body was found three days later on Jan 16.

“I was summoned to Tawau Hospital by ASP Yusman Shari Marinsah. I was escorted by a medical specialist to the mortuary and saw the remains, but initially, I couldn’t identify him due to the condition of the remains.

“However, later I identified him based on a damaged toe on the right foot,” he said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Fakhrurrazi Ahmad before Justice Duncan Sikodol.

Norazrie was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of six policemen and a civilian, charged with killing the e-hailing driver early last year.

Former Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) head of intelligence Mat Zaki Zain was charged with abetting in the murder.

The policemen Rosdi Rastam, 45, Denis Anit, 45, Fabian Rungam, 44, Khairul Azman Bakar, 47, Azlan Sakaran, 40, and John Kennedy Sanggah, 44, and a civilian Vivien Fabian, 34, were charged with the murder of Nurman at an oil palm plantation near Jalan Anjur Juara, Jalan Apas Baru 5 here.

They were accused of committing the murder between 7.30pm and 11.30pm on Jan 13 last year and were charged under Section 300 of the Penal Code, read with Section 34 of the same code, and could face the death penalty if convicted.

Mat Zaki, 59, is facing two charges under Section 109 of the Penal Code.

When questioned by lawyer Hairul Vaiyron Othman, Norazrie agreed that he could not be 100% certain that the body was that of his father.

Norazrie, an assistant plantation manager in Tongod, said his parents, who married in 1985, divorced after he completed Form 5 and he was unaware that his father had remarried and later divorced again.

He said he had no knowledge that his father had visited an entertainment outlet and confiscated his ex-wife’s mobile phone a few days before his death.

He was also not aware if the Myvi found with the body was the one his father used while living in Lahad Datu.

Tawau police chief Jasmin Hussin told the court that he visited the crime scene on Jan 16 and was there for about 10 to 15 minutes.

“When I arrived at the scene, I observed that the body was in a supine position on the left side of the white Perodua Myvi,” the eighth prosecution witness said.

The trial continues tomorrow. - FMT