BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

IT MAY take a few months for the exhibits in the Kuala Belait murder case to be analysed before a charge can be finalised against 27-year-old Muhammad Zulkifli Abdul Jalil, the prosecution said yesterday.

Muhammad Zulkifli is currently facing a murder charge for the death of 43-year-old Ispawi Idris at a house in the Pandan National Housing Scheme on May 20 of this year.

The defendant, who is unrepresented, has yet to enter a plea on the death penalty charge.

During the proceedings yesterday, Prosecuting Officer Shamshuddin Hj Kamaluddin told the court that an investigation into the case is still ongoing as the swabs taken from the crime scene that were sent to Singapore are still in the early stages of analysis. The prosecution said they need to know the results of the analysis before deciding on the final charge against the defendant. He added that this may take two to three months. Following the proceedings, Muhammad Zulkifli was allowed to see his parents and family members at the court cell for 20 minutes before being sent back to Jerudong Prison.

A further mention of the case is scheduled to be heard September 9 before magistrate Hjh Ervy Sufitriana Hj Abd Rahman.

Muhammad Zulkifli was initially charged together with co-accused Hakimi Rizal Abdullah @ Eyan Anak Beritin. But Hakimi was found dead on June 2 due to “unnatural causes”. At the time, he was remanded at the Central Police Station. An inquest into his death is still under way.

The Brunei Times