TAWAU: The High Court here has acquitted and discharged eight individuals linked to the murder case of a 61-year-old e-hailing driver.
They are former Esscom Intelligence chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Mat Zaki Md Zain, six police officers and a civilian.
Judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol made the ruling after hearing the Deputy
Public Prosecutor Khairul Azreem Mamat's request, who informed the court that he did not wish to proceed with the charge against the accused.
Khairul Azreem said the request was made under Section 254 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
"This request is made after taking into account the latest developments in the trial, which entered its eighth day today," he said.
The hearing was supposed to resume today, but everyone in the courtroom was shocked by the testimony of the 23rd witness, Nurimah Juli, 35, who admitted to killing Nurman, on Anjur Juara Street, Batu 5 Jalan Apas, at around 8pm on Jan 13 last year. It is understood that Nurimah is the former wife of the victim.
Earlier, on July 7, Mat Zaki, 58, was brought to court on charges related to the murder of the e-hailing driver.
Mat Zaki was accused of conspiring with John Kennedy Sanggah to murder Nurman Bakaratu, 61, in a palm oil plantation near Jalan Anjur Juara, Jalan Apas Batu 5, Tawau between 7.30pm and 11.30pm on Jan 13 last year.
The charge was framed under Section 109 of the Penal Code read together with Section 302 of the Penal Code.
On Feb 8, Mat Zaki was alleged to have conspired with six other accused, namely Rosdi Rastam, 44, Denis Anit, 44, Fabian Rungam, 43, Khairul Azman Bakar, 47, Mohd Azlan Sakaran, 39 and Vivien Fabian, 34, to murder Nurman at the same place and time.
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