Nazri Abdul Razak’s Murder Trial: Investigating Officer Denies Expedited Prosecution Due to Social Media Outcry

Investigating Officer Testifies in Court

An investigating officer from the Ipoh police headquarters’ criminal investigation division, Chua Sze Yuan, denied today that the prosecution of senior police officer Nazri Abdul Razak was expedited due to the case’s prominence on social media.

Tensions High in Court

However, Chua agreed with defence lawyer Mior Faridalathrash Wahid that tensions were high when Nazri was brought to the Ipoh High Court due to the presence of supporters, the victim’s family, and members of the public, necessitating tight police security.

Directive to Charge Nazri

Mior had asked whether the directive to charge Nazri was issued quickly, on December 17, 2023, following the incident two days earlier, due to the social media outcry, Bernama reported.

Prosecution Conducted While Awaiting Reports

Earlier, Chua said Nazri’s prosecution was conducted while awaiting the completion of the chemist’s report and the reports of the post-mortem and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research.

Clarification on Tentative Charge

Asked by another defence lawyer, M Athimulan, about his testimony on December 17, 2023, that he received the directive for Nazri to be “tentatively” charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, Chua clarified that it referred to charging the accused first while awaiting the completion of other reports.

The Incident

Nazri, who holds the rank of DSP, was charged with the murder of student Zaharif Affendi Zamrie, 17, by running down the motorcyclist with his car at Jalan Taman Jati 1 near SMK Jati in Ipoh, between 11.45am and 12.32pm on December 15, 2023.

The Prosecution

The prosecution is led by deputy public prosecutors Afzainizam Abdul Aziz, Nasrul Hadi Abdul Ghani, and Low Qin.

The Defence

Nazri is represented by lawyers Athimulan, Mior, and Aiman Hakim Kamaruzzaman.

The Trial

The trial, presided over by Justice Bhupindar Singh, continues tomorrow.

Conclusion

The trial of Nazri Abdul Razak, a senior police officer charged with the murder of a 17-year-old student, has raised questions about the expedited prosecution process. While the investigating officer denied that social media played a role in the swift prosecution, the case has garnered significant attention online. The trial will continue, with the prosecution and defence presenting their cases to the court.

FAQs

Q: Who is Nazri Abdul Razak?
A: Nazri Abdul Razak is a senior police officer who has been charged with the murder of a 17-year-old student.

Q: What is the charge against Nazri?
A: Nazri has been charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Q: When did the incident occur?
A: The incident occurred on December 15, 2023, at Jalan Taman Jati 1 near SMK Jati in Ipoh.

Q: Who is representing Nazri in court?
A: Nazri is represented by lawyers Athimulan, Mior, and Aiman Hakim Kamaruzzaman.

Q: When will the trial continue?
A: The trial will continue tomorrow, presided over by Justice Bhupindar Singh.