Malaysia Crime Watch

25 July 2007
Shah Alam

Chief Inspector Koh Fei Cheow was cross-examined by Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, who is appearing for accused Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, in the murder trial of Altantuya Shaariibuu yesterday. Koh said he did not record what Azilah had said about the location of the crime scene in his 6 November 2006 police report.

Kamarul put forth to the court that Koh had just recorded implied speech of Azilah instead of implicitly indicating that “this was the spot where the Mongolian woman was shot or where she was blasted with explosives” in contrast to what he had testified in court earlier. Kamarul suggested that Koh did not record Azilah’s statements during interrogation because the later did not have anything to reveal.

Koh later denied that he had entered Azilah’s house bedroom in Kota Damansara with some other police officers, closed the door and left Azilah in the living room for 15 minutes before he was taken in to locate some of Altantuya’s belongings. Some jewellery and a watch were found in his black jacket in a clothes closet. Koh said he did not instruct Azilah to hold the jacket and point to where the items were.

Koh denied that the Bukit Aman interrogation division head, Deputy Superintendent Zainudin Abdul Samad, had ordered Azilah by saying “Go forward, go forward. Point it out, point it out”, referring to the areas where Altantuya were allegedly shot and blown up. Koh explained that both of them were within his sight and hearing all the time that they were at the Puncak Alam crime scene.

The prosecution’s 21st witness was Zainudin, aged 52, who went to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters 2 November 2006 together with four policemen. In the interrogation room, two officers were inside and the process was done over five days with breaks for Azilah to have his meals.

Zainudin said Azilah was handcuffed while he was interrogated. At 4pm on 6 November 2006, Azilah told him that he wanted to “roughly show” the location of the crime scene. Zainudin called ASP Tonny Lunggan to inform him about this and Azilah was taken to the lock-up. 15 minutes later, Zainudin said he saw Koh with Azilah waiting to go to the crime scene.

Zainudin followed the two in a police four-wheel-drive vehicle and sat beside the driver. Koh and Azilah were seated at the back having a conversation. Azilah told the driver to stop at a junction before telling him to turn back. When they arrived at another junction, Zainudin said Koh said something to Azilah but he left the car for a smoke.

When they arrived at the crime scene, Zainudin said Azilah pointed to the locations where Altantuya was shot and later blasted with explosives.

From 7 November 2006 onwards, Zainudin said he interrogated Azilah at the Bukit Aman police headquarters as it was more convenient.

The Star Online – Defence team hints of planted evidence
<URL:http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/25/nation/18396562&sec=nation>

New Straits Times – Altantuya Murder Trial: Remarks by accused at murder site not noted, says cop
<URL:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/20070725081032/Article/index_html>

New Straits Times – Altantuya Murder Trial: Azilah ‘roughly showed’ police crime scene
<URL:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/20070725080944/Article/index_html>

MCW – Inspector Koh Denies Police Had Prior Knowledge of Altantuya Murder Location
<URL:http://malaysiacrimewatch.lokety.com/inspector-koh-denies-police-had-prior/>

Technorati Tags: malaysia crime, malaysia, crime, shah alam, murder, trial, death, altantuya, shaariibuu, altantuya shaariibuu, abdul razak baginda, baginda, azilah hadri, sirul azhar, crime scene, tonny lunggan, puncak alam, koh fei cheow, zainudin abdul samad, interrogation

25 July 2007
Kuala Lumpur

Rohani Baba’s decomposed body was found in some undergrowth at an open air car park behind Menara Maybank along Jalan Persiaran Maybank. The 31-year-old woman is believed to be murdered by her 31-year-old boyfriend.

He led police to the body and was arrested in Alor Gajah last Saturday. Police said the couple were sought by police to assist investigations into the murder of Rohani’s foster mother in Malacca on 20 June 2007. 69-year-old Ramah Madshah was found dead in her Lubuk Cina home.

Rohani was believed to have been stabbed to death before her body was dumped at the car park.

The Star Online – Woman’s decomposed body found at car park
<URL:http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/25/nation/18397197&sec=nation>

Technorati Tags: malaysia, malaysia crime, crime, kuala lumpur, body, murder, stabbing, death, menara maybank, persiaran maybank, alor gajah, lubuk cina

24 July 2007
Shah Alam

Accused Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri was arrested on 1 November 2006 and detained at the Kuala Lumpur police lockup for six days before he led police to the alleged crime scene where Altantuya was brutally murdered. DSP Zainudin Abdul Samad, who was leading the police investigation team, had interrogated Azilah before the latter was handed over to Chief Inspector Koh Fei Cheow.

Koh was on leave for at least two days before Azilah was handed over to him. He said he met Zainudin at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters just before they were about to leave with Azilah to the crime scene.

Koh denied that Azilah remained silent at all times he was taken out from the lock-up to the crime scene, but Koh did not caution him that he had the right to remain silent. The defence put it to Koh that Zainudin had told Azilah: “Azilah, I am happy today. You need not say anything. Sirul is already back and we know the crime scene. You just follow the Chinese officer”, which Koh denied.

Azilah allegedly replied saying “If you know the place, why take me there.” Then Zainudin allegedly told Azilah: “This is an instruction. Don’t show your stubbornness.”

Koh also denied that he knew that Zainudin asked Azilah to point out the crime scene when they arrived at an open space on top of a hill in Puncak Alam. He believed that the police had no prior knowledge of the crime scene before Azilah was taken there.

Koh also testified court that he had lodged a police report after visiting the crime scene when he found remains believed to be human bones and burnt marks on some trees.

New Straits Times – Altantuya murder trial: Witness: Police had no prior knowledge of crime scene
<URL:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/National/20070724080357/Article/index_html>

MCW – Azilah Lead Police to Crime Scene and Azhar Gave Up Altantuya Jewellery
<URL:http://malaysiacrimewatch.lokety.com/azilah-led-police-to-crime-scene-and/>

Technorati Tags: malaysia crime, malaysia, crime, shah alam, murder, trial, death, altantuya, shaariibuu, altantuya shaariibuu, abdul razak baginda, baginda, azilah hadri, sirul azhar, crime scene, tonny lunggan, puncak alam, koh fei cheow, zainudin abdul samad, human bones