Church arson trial told of false report on burns
0 Comments | New Straits Times, Jul 29, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR: One of the two brothers charged with arson on the Metro Tabernacle Church had admitted to the police that he lodged a false report that his brother suffered burns while burning rubbish, the Sessions Court was told yesterday.
Investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Tan Chek Yang testified that Raja Muhammad Idzham Raja Ibrahim, 22, had claimed to be Raja Muhammad Faizal when he lodged the report about 4pm on Jan 8.
“During interrogation, Idzham admitted that the report was false,” said Tan, adding that the report stated that Faizal had suffered burns on the face and hands while burning rubbish at a house in Sungai Sering near Bukit Antarabangsa.
“How could Faizal have lodged the report because at that time he was unconscious after he was sedated at Kuala Lumpur Hospital,” he said.
Faizal, 24, Idzham and their friend Azuwan Shah Ahmad, 23, are charged with setting fire to the church at 11.50pm on Jan 7.
The brothers are represented by Datuk Hanif Hashim, while Dzaki Ezhar Bahar appeared for Azuwan. Deputy public prosecutors Azlina Rasdi and Lailawati Ali are prosecuting.
Tan said he went to the house in Sungai Sering on June 29.
Asked by Hanif why he only went there months after the report was lodged, Tan said: “It was because Idzham had admitted that the report was false.”
He also disagreed that he did not conduct the investigation thoroughly.
Tan said he met the house owner, Zainal Abidin Ibrahim, and he later asked one Inspector Hanis to record a statement from Zainal Abidin’s son, Hazman.
Tan said Hazman had confirmed that the brothers suffered burns while burning rubbish at the house.
“Hazman claimed he had also suggested that Faizal and Idzham seek treatment at Klinik Idzham in Bukit Antarabangsa which was nearby.”
Earlier, Tan said he received a CCTV recording from a shop behind the church on Jan 8.
“The recording showed a car and three to four motorcycles parked near the church. Several men then walked towards the church and suddenly there was an explosion,” he said adding that the images, however, were blur.
Another witness, Dr Leong Ai Chen of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital burns unit, said when she saw Faizal at the ward on Jan 8, he was already on a ventilator as he suffered lung injury.
“He also suffered 16 per cent burns on his face, neck and hands. He was unconscious as he was sedated.”
Dr Leong said the lung injury could be caused by heat from the fire or smoke.
“When I interviewed him, he told me that he sustained the injuries while burning old wood at his relative’s house using kerosene,” she said, adding that he was transferred to the neurology ward on Jan 22.
The prosecution closed its case yesterday after calling 24 witnesses.
Judge S.M
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