The 28th prosecution witness in the murder of Cradle Fund CEO Nazrin Hassan said he was told that the fire in the victim’s bedroom was caused by a mobile phone explosion.
Nazrin’s personal driver, Muhammad Nabil Faqih, 28, told the Shah Alam High Court today it was his employer’s stepson who had informed him of the matter when they met on the day of the incident.
Nabil said he knew Nazrin had died when his employer’s secretary, Anisa, contacted him on June 14, 2018. On hearing the news, he had rushed to the victim’s house, accompanied by his wife.
“On June 14 (2018), I was given the day off (by Nazrin). I received a call (from Anisa) informing that Nazrin had passed away. When asked how, I was told there was a fire in his house.
“When I got to his (Nazrin) house, I met his stepson and asked how the fire had occurred.
“He said the mobile phone exploded and fragments from the blast had also hit him on the back,” he said when questioned by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Asnawi Abu Hanipah.
Earlier, Asnawi asked Nabil of his whereabouts on June 14, 2018 and how he knew his employer had died.
When asked what he understood by “on the back”, as told by Nazrin’s stepson, Nabil could not explain as he could not remember the details.
“I can’t remember much except that as I was leaving, Nazrin’s stepson said Nazrin may have been attacked or hit by someone as there was blood on his back, while pointing to the back of his head,” he said.
Asnawi: He (Nazrin’s stepson) said someone could have done it. Why did he say that? You didn’t ask?
Nabil: I didn’t.
Asnawi: What was your reaction on hearing this?
Nabil: For as long as I have known the stepson, he loves telling stories like children do, and I never took them seriously. He may have seen it from afar and thought so.
Asnawi: You know he talks a lot, but you didn’t ask him further?
Nabil: No, I just listened.
Nazrin’s widow, Samirah Muzaffar, 45, a former senior executive at the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia, and two boys, aged 17 and 14, as well as an Indonesian woman, Eka Wahyu Lestari, who is still at large, have been charged with murdering Nazrin at a house in Mutiara Damansara, between 11.30pm on June 13, 2018 and 4am the following day.
The hearing before judge Ab Karim Ab Rahman continues on Sept 25.
Earlier reports:
Jul 24, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Petrol Can Found at Victim’s House
July 14, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Defence Disagrees with Analysis by JBPM
Jul 13, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Samirah Never Claimed Life Insurance Following Nazrin’s Death
Jul 9, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Nazrin’s Body Had Heat-Induced Marks
Jul 9: Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Nazrin Suspected Ex-Wife Involved in Burglary at His House
Jul 3, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Nazrin’s Sister Disagrees Siblings Were Not Close
Jun 29, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Evidence Room Used Only for Nazrin Case Exhibits
Jun 26, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: No SOP, No Records Made at Temporary Evidence Room
Jun 12, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Death Cert Details Prompted Request for Exhumation
Jun 9, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Hole in CEO’s Head Aroused Sister’s Suspicions
May 22, Cradle Fund CEO Murder Trial: Blackberry Phone Did Not Explode
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