Dec 27 fixed for verdict on JAIP officer's murder case

The High Court here today set Dec 27 to deliver its verdict on a criminal conspiracy which led to the death of Pahang Islamic Religious Department assistant enforcement chief Ahmad Raffli Abd Malek involving deviant teaching group 'Tuhan Harun' leader Harun Mat Saat and five of his followers three years ago.

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Ab Karim Ab Rahman set the date after the prosecution comprising deputy public prosecutors Khamizah Salleh, Nurul Farahah Mohd Suah and Shahrul Ekhsan Hasim made late submission of their written submission to the court and defence lawyers.

Ab Karim also chided the prosecution for failing to submit the written submissions on the date set earlier.

The decision on the case should have been delivered in today's proceeding after hearing submissions from both the prosecution and defence.

Harun, who had died on Aug 16 at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital here due to respiratory problem along with five of his followers and another person still at large, were accused of committing the offence at No 7, Lorong IM 2/29, Bandar Indera Mahkota, here at 1.50pm on Nov 10, 2013.

The five other accused are Harun's third wife Azida Mohd Zol, 33, their driver Shaizral Eddie Nizam Shaari, 40, and three followers Jefferi Safar, 39, Sumustapha Suradi, 41, and Shamsinar Abdul Halim, 39.

On May 29, the High Court here ordered all the accused to enter their defence on the charge after finding the prosecution had proven a prima facie case against them.

Shamsinar, Sumustapha and another person still at large were also ordered to defend themselves on another charge of murdering Ahmad Raffli at the same date, place and time.

They were charged under Section 120B (1) and read together with Section 34 of the same code which provided for the mandatory death sentence, if convicted.

The accused were represented by lawyers Hermes Putra Media Ibrahim, Amer Hamzah Arshad and Mohammad Naim Mahmud.

A total of 54 witnesses including the victim's children and wife were called to testify in the trial. --Bernama