TAWAU: The trial proceedings for the murder case implicating former Eastern Sabah Security Command's (Esscom) intelligence chief Datuk Mat Zaki Md Zain, 58, along with seven others began at the High Court here today.
The full trial for the high-profile murder case, which garnered public attention, was heard before Judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol, and began about 9.45am.
During today's proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Khairul Azreem Mamat said the prosecution's narrative is that Mat Zaki conspired with the seven others accused in this case to murder Nurman Bakaratu, 61, near Jalan Anjur Juara, Jalan Apas Batu 5, here, at around 10.30am on Jan 16 last year.
He added the prosecution would also present witnesses, including members of the public, police officers and experts to prove the guilt of each accused beyond reasonable doubt.
"The prosecution will prove that the murder occurred on Jan 13, 2023, where the deceased (victim) was lured out of a hotel in Tawau and instructed to drive with several others in a car to an oil palm plantation, where the murder took place.
"The victim's car was then followed by other vehicles, and when all the vehicles were moving in the oil palm plantation, one of the accused directed the victim to stop the car. One of them suddenly stabbed the left side of the victim's neck with a sharp object."
Khairul Azreem said this in his opening statement on the first day of the trial.
He added that one of the accused then dragged the victim out of the car and laid him on the ground before leaving the victim's body, which was found three days later.
"The results of the forensic examination also confirmed that the cause of the victim's death was severe injury to the neck using a sharp object," he said.
On Feb 8, policemen Rosdi Rastam, 44; Denis Anit, 44; Fabian Rungam, 43; Khairul Azman Bakar, 47; Mohd Azlan Sakaran, 39; and civilian Vivien Fabian, 34, were charged with Nurman's murder, an e-hailing driver at the same place and time.
On April 11, another police officer, John Kennedy Sanggah, 44, was also charged with the murder of Nurman at the same place and time.
All of them are charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
Mat Zaki is charged with two counts of conspiring to murder- The first charge is conspiring to murder Nurman with six other accused while the second is conspiring with John Kennedy.
Both charges can be punished under Section 109 of the Penal Code read together with Section 302 of the same Code.
In today's proceedings, Khairul Azreem was assisted by other DPPs Rohaiza Abd Rahman, Lina Hanini Ismail, Mohammad Fakhrurrazi Ahmad and Low Win Hui.
As for the accused, Rosdi was represented by lawyers Ansari Abdullah and Erveena Ansari; Denis by Hairul Bairon and Luke Ressa Balang; Fabian by Sharata Masyaroh John Ridwan Lincon, Zahbia Ophent, and Mohd Zairi Zainal Abidin.
Meanwhile, Mat Zaki, along with four other accused, namely Vivien, John , Khairul, and Mohd Azlan, were represented by lawyers Ram Singh and Kamarudin Mohamad Chinki.