The 20th prosecution witness in the murder trial of Cradle Fund chief executive officer Nazrin Hassan told the High Court today that based on its physical condition, the victim’s BlackBerry smartphone did not explode.
Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Fire Safety Director Edwin Galan Teruki said the matter was confirmed based on their investigations at the scene.
“Investigation into the phone revealed that it did not explode. If the phone exploded, then it would have shattered into pieces or bent.

“The condition of the room (crime scene) also did not look as there was an explosion. If there was (due to explosion of the smartphone), most probably the wall structure in the room would have been damaged,” he said before Judge Datuk Ab Karim Ab Rahman.
The witness was responding to a question by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Asnawi Abu Hanipah on the physical condition of the smartphone.
Prior to this, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department fire investigations officer, Abdul Halim Zulkefeli, who was the 15th prosecution witness confirmed that he had never come across a fire caused by BlackBerry phone explosion.
At the proceeding, Galan also informed the court that he saw white coloured sparks from a photograph taken at the scene.
“The sparks are not from the wall paint but a high heat entity. We found that the sparks were the result of high heat caused by burning petrol, not a mobile phone,” he added.
On August 3, 2018, police classified Nazrin’s death as murder based on the fire department’s report on autopsy results.

On March 12, Nazrin’s wife Samirah Muzaffar, 44, a former senior executive at the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia and two teenagers, aged 17 and 14, were charged, along with Indonesian citizen, Eka Wahyu Lestari, who is still at large, with Nazrin’s murder.
They were alleged to have committed the offence at a house in Mutiara Homes, Mutiara Damansara between 11.30pm on June 13, 2018, and 4am on June 14, 2018.
The hearing continues on June 5.
Earlier reports:
May 15, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Three Fire Origins Detected at Burnt Home
Feb 15, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Sibling Aware of Death Threat Against Nazrin
Dec 31, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Widow Refused to Allow Insurance to Pay Deceased’s Debts
Dec 28, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Brother Gets Info on Post-Mortem from Health DG
Dec 27, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Blog Allegedly Penned by Nazrin About Brother
Dec 24, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Witness Never Heard of Fire from Exploding BlackBerry
Dec 17, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Tense Atmosphere
Dec 3, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Fire Originated in Two Places
Nov 29, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Another Witness Accused of Lying
Nov 15, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Heated Exchange Between Witness and Lawyer Shafee
Nov 8, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Nazrin’s Body Not Typical of Fire Victim
Oct 3, Fireman: Cradle Fund CEO Had Holes on Head, Fireworks Found in Victim’s Room
Oct 3, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Samirah’s Son Filed Police Report of Cops Lying to Him
Oct 2, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Fireman Says Widow Didn’t Seem Sad at His Death
Sept 28, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Cop Saw Head and Face Injuries on Deceased
Sept 20, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Public Entered House After Fire
Sept 20, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Cop Who Received Call on Fire, Photographer Testify
Sept 13, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Guard Tried to Break Down Bedroom Door
Sept 6, Prosecution to Prove Widow. Stepsons Killed Cradle Fund CEO