The Malaysian Prisons Department yesterday denied claims by lawyer Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Shafee Abdullah that his client, Samirah Muzaffar, the widow of Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Nazrin Hassan, has been detained in a dark and isolated room.
The department’s prison policy director Datuk Nordin Muhamad said Samirah was placed alone in the room next to that of the officer on duty at the Kajang Women’s Prison.
“(Samirah’s placement in the room) is based on the category and control requirements in line with the categorisation of prisoners under the Prison Rules 2000.
“Checks by the Prison Headquarters also found no damage to the lights in the room the nominee (Samirah) has been placed in,” he said in a statement yesterday.
On Tuesday, Samirah, 44, and two boys aged 17 and 14, pleaded not guilty in the Shah Alam High Court on the charge of killing Nazrin in June last year.

He added that prisons in Malaysia did not have dark rooms, and all rooms or cells had windows with iron bars to allow light and air into the room.

“The rooms and cells are suitable in terms of floor size, ventilation and lighting as well as facilities provided.
“This includes checks and confirmation that a particular room or cell is fit for use by medical officers before it can be used,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nordin said Samirah had never submitted any request for a notebook and pencil.
“The nominee (Samirah) as a person who has just been remanded also admitted to being a little confused over the rules of stationery in the prison, and an explanation was provided to her.
“The nominee was then provided with stationery for writing under the supervision of prison officials,” he said.
Nordin said the department always strived to meet the needs of the prisoners, and at the same time, encouraged prisoners to always comply with laws and regulations.
Muhammad Shafee previously filed a complaint that his client had been placed in a dark and isolated room at the Kajang Prison and was not given a pencil and notebook to make notes regarding the case.
Related reports:
Mar 12, Cradle CEO’s Widow, Two Teens Plead Not Guilty to Murder
Mar 4, Updated: Cradle CEO’s Wife, Stepsons, Maid to Be Charged with Murder
Feb 26, Second Autopsy Shows Cradle CEO Died of Head Injuries, Not Blast
Dec 13, Cradle Fund CEO’s Widow Accuses Cops of Being ‘Unfair’ in Murder Probe
Nov 15, Cradle CEO Nazrin Received Death Threat Three Months Before Murder
Nov 11, Missing Maid in Cradle Fund CEO Murder Mystery
Oct 15, Cradle CEO Buried Again After Second Post-Mortem
Oct 11, Reburial of Cradle CEO Postponed
Oct 9, Remains of Cradle CEO to be Buried Again on Oct 12
Oct 8, Cradle CEO’s Body Exhumed
Oct 6, Cradle CEO’s Brother Urges Sis-in-Law to Set Aside Differences
Oct 5, Bid by Cradle CEO’s Widow to Stop Exhumation Dismissed
Oct 3, Cradle CEO’s Brother Says Post-Mortem Report Way Off
Oct 1, Body of Cradle CEO to be Exhumed for Second Post-Mortem
Sept 26, Cradle CEO’s Murder: Sis-in-Law and Husband Released from Remand
Sept 24, Sis-in-Law and Husband Arrested in Cradle CEO Murder Probe
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Sept 12, Police Raid House Where Cradle CEO’s Widow was Staying
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Sept 10, Family, Friends, Activist Protest Police Treatment of Cradle CEO’s Stepsons
Sept 9, Cradle CEO’s Stepsons Arrested
Sept 6, Cops Deny Cradle CEO’s Stepsons Arrested over Murder Probe
Sept 4, Cradle CEO’s Wife, Ex-Husband Arrested over Murder Investigation
Aug 14, Wife of Slain Cradle CEO Slams Probe, Disputes Police Claim of Murder
Aug 6, Death of Cradle Chief in Fire Reclassified as Murder
Jun 15, Mobile Phone Explosion Blamed for Death of Cradle Fund CEO