KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here, hearing the case of the fire at the Pusat Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah, was told that the bone, blood and urine specimens belonging to the fire victims were taken on the same day.
Bukit Aman’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (D7C) Unit, ASP Khairil Idzwan Ahmad, 42, said the specimens taken by several Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) forensic medical officers were later handed to him on the same day for further action.
“On the same day, I received samples of the blood, bone and urine specimens. I also received bits of the victims’ clothing,“ he said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Nurakmal Farhan Aziz at the hearing today.
Two juveniles then aged 16 were jointly charged with murdering and causing the death of 23 residents at the tahfiz centre at Jalan Keramat Hujung, Kampung Datuk Keramat, Wangsa Maju, here between 4.15am and 6.45am, on Sept 14, 2017.
They each face 23 counts of murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same law, which provides the mandatory death sentence, upon conviction.
Earlier, the 36th prosecution witness who at the time of the incident was Wangsa Maju district Criminal Investigation Department chief said, he received information on the fire at 6.30am on Sept 14, 2017.
He said he rushed to the scene and when he arrived there at 7.15am he instructed his officers to accompany the bodies of the victims to HKL’s Forensic Dept.
Kuala Lumpur prosecuting director Othman Abdullah also appeared for the prosecution, while the two accused were represented by counsel Haijan Omar.
The trial before Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah continues tomorrow. — Bernama
