KUALA LUMPUR: The trial of police officer Steven Gregory Fernandez, accused of drugging a beautician, commenced today with the first prosecution witness tendering still images extracted from CCTV footage taken at the scene of the incident into evidence.
Tajul Josalmi Tajul Ariffin, head of the digital forensics department at Cybersecurity Malaysia, told the magistrates’ court here that he was tasked with extracting the images by Brickfields narcotic investigation officer Khairul Izwan Zainal Abidin.
Josalmi identified 24 black-and-white still images he extracted from a pen drive containing 269 CCTV video clips, which he said had been handed to him by his subordinate, only identified as Omar.
He said Omar had accompanied the investigating officer to the location where the incident is alleged to have taken place.
“I extracted the still images as requested,” Josalmi told magistrate Atiqah Mohamed.
Asked by defence counsel Rajpal Singh in cross-examination to explain the poor quality of the images, the witness said he was unable to do so as he was not present at the scene.
Rajpal: I suggest that the images are wholly unclear due to poor lighting.
Josalmi: I disagree.
Atiqah then adjourned the trial to July 29 and 30, when two other prosecution witnesses are scheduled to testify.
Deputy public prosecutor Nadia Jamaluddin Akbar appeared for the prosecution.
Fernandez, 57, is charged under Section 14(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 with administering methamphetamine and amphetamine, listed as “dangerous drugs”, on his victim at a bar in Plaza Damas 3 in Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur, between 9.30pm and 10pm on Aug 4, 2020.
If found guilty, he faces a fine of up to RM10,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
Post a Comment