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A man was charged in the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court on Thursday, 11 September, with allegedly threatening forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu, a key witness in the inquest into Zara Qairina Mahathir's death
According to Bernama, the accused, Kamul Kamarudin, 61, pleaded not guilty before Judge Marlina Ibrahim.
The retired primary school headmaster from Semporna, Sabah, is accused of posting a threatening comment on Facebook under the profile name 'Amung Kamaruddin' about 11pm on 4 September.
The comment, directed at Dr Hiu, suggested spying on her whereabouts and hiring someone to carry out a hit-and-run. The comment read: "Mau intai bah ni Dr di mana dia tinggal… bila dia kerja… upah bah… pemandu langgar lari (We should spy on where this doctor lives… when she works… hire someone… a hit-and-run driver)."
Dr Hiu, who read the comment at about 4.15pm on 5 September, lodged a police report. A day earlier, she had testified at the inquest that Zara Qairina's death was consistent with injuries sustained from a fall.
Forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu (right) appeared before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan as the first witness in the 17-day inquest into Zara Qairina Mahathir's death.
Image via Mohd Adam Arinin/New Straits TimesKamul was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to one year, or both, upon conviction
Deputy public prosecutors Lovely Natasha Charles and Eugenie Meredith Gilbert requested bail of RM20,000 with two sureties, along with conditions barring the accused from contacting or intimidating the victim.
The accused's lawyer, Elhanan James, appealed for a lower bail, citing his client's health issues, including hypertension and gout, and that he has fully cooperated with police and posed no flight risk.
Kamul Kamaruddin pleaded not guilty to making an online threat against forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu.
Image via Bernama/The Borneo PostThe court set bail at RM20,000 with two local sureties and fixed 29 September for pre-trial case management
According to the New Straits Times, the court also imposed additional conditions requiring the accused to report to the police once a month and refrain from disturbing prosecution witnesses.
