Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
Church arson: Accused lied to police, court told, 28 July 2010
The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court was today told that Raja Mohd Idzham Raja Ibrahim, the second accused in the burning of Metro Tabernacle church in Desa Melawati last January, admitted to giving false information in a police report made under his brother's name Raja Mohamad Faizal Raja Ibrahim, last Jan 8.
Senior investigating officer at the Sentul police CID, ASP Tan Chek Yang, 34, said that during questioning, Raja Mohd Idzham admitted that the report which stated that Raja Mohamad Faizal, who is the first accused, sustained burns while burning rubbish at their house was false.
"During the questioning, Raja Mohd Idzham said that his brother was injured while burning rubbish at their friend, Hamzan Zainal Abidin's house in Hulu Klang and I went to the scene to obtain more information," he said during cross-examination by lawyer Hanif Hashim, who represented the two brothers.
During examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Azlina Rasdi whether he knew Hamzan, Tan said "no".
In this trial, Raja Mohamad Faizal, 24, Raja Mohamad Idzham, 22, and Azuwan Shah Ahmad, 23, are charged with several other people still at large, with committing mischief by burning the church located at Jalan 4/4C, Desa Melawati at 11.50pm on Jan 7.
The trio, all of whom are despatch clerks, have been charged under Section 436 of the Penal Code and liable to be jailed up to 20 years and fined if convicted.
Tan, who is the 24th prosecution witness, denied having met Hamzan, a teacher, when he went to the house.
"I have never met Hamzan. Instead, I met the house owner, Zainal Abidin Ibrahim, who is Hamzan's father, but I asked my officer, Inspector Hanis, from the Kepong police station, to record Hamzan's statement," he added.
Tan said that from the statement recorded by Hanis, Hamzan confirmed that Raja Mohd Faizal and his brother were at his house and both of them sustained the burns while burning rubbish at his house.
Judge SM Komathy Suppiah set this Friday for both parties to submit their written submissions.
- Bernama
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