KUALA LUMPUR: The third accused in the murder trial of National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain told the High Court he was not aware his father had ‘confronted’ prosecution witness Ahmad Senabil Mohamad.
Muhammad Najib Mohd Razi said this when told by deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim that a police report had been lodged over the incident.
His father Mohd Razi with a rank of sergeant and stationed in Ipoh, Perak had allegedly approached the 24th prosecution witness and asked him to give a false statement in the trial.
Julia: Do you know your father had approached Senabil and asked him to change his statement?
Muhammad Najib: I do not know.
Julia: Do you know a police report had been made for this incident?
Muhammad Najib: I do not know.
Earlier, when being questioned by his counsel, Datuk Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Muhammad Najib admitted that Abodul Hakeem Mohd Ali, the sixth accused, had asked him to press the steam iron on Zulfarhan.
“When I went back into my room (room 4-10), a group of cadets had gathered... but I did not know their purpose.
“I decided not to join and went out to room 4-11 to study.
“When I went back into my room at about 5am, Abodul Hakeem who was already inside the room told me to ‘buat sekali’ (join in), before an unknown cadet handed me the steam iron,” he added.
Muhammad Najib said he grabbed the nozzle and was shocked when he saw Zulfarhan who was only in his underpants screaming on the floor.
“I immediately put the nozzle away... I did not press it on Zulfarhan’s body,” he added.
Abodul Hakeem’s lawyer Zamri Idrus then stood up and argued that the accused had a personal grudge against his client.
Zamri: I put to you, you are trying to inflict my client in this incident.
Muhammad Najib: I disagree.
Zamri: You are trying to say that you are the victim?
Muhammad Najib: I disagree.
Zamri: Have you lodged a police report against Abdul Hakeem?
Muhammad Najib: No.
Zamri: I suggest you lied in your testimony today.
Muhammad Najib: No.
Muhammad Najib, Muhammad Akmal Zuhairi Azmal, Afif Najmudin, Muhammad Azamuddin Mad Sofi, and Mohamad Shobirin are jointly charged with murdering Zulfarhan; while Abodul Hakeem Mohd Ali is charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
All six face the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
The six and 13 other students, all aged 23, also pleaded not guilty to voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Zulfarhan with the intention of extracting a confession from Zulfarhan for allegedly stealing a laptop.
The offence was allegedly committed at room 04-10 Jebat Hostel Block, UPNM, between 2.30am and 5.30am on May 21 and in the same room between 1.30am and 4.30am on May 22.
Zulfarhan was found with burn marks and bruises in an apartment in Serdang at about 8pm on June 1, and was pronounced dead at about 10pm at the Serdang Hospital.
The trial continues on Dec 3 before Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah.