Police deny leaking pictures of Bella’s injuries
An analyst at the police forensic laboratory tells the sessions court he does not know how an activist obtained the photos that were posted on Facebook.
KUALA LUMPUR: The sessions court was told today that police did not leak the photographs showing injuries suffered by a 13-year-old girl with Down Syndrome, known as Bella, which were posted on a Facebook page belonging to a women’s rights activist.
Mior Samsul Abdul Rahman, an analyst at the police forensic laboratory’s audio video investigation unit, said he did not know how the activist, known as Mona Din, got the pictures that were posted on her Facebook page on Aug 12 last year.
Questioned by lawyer Asiah Abd Jalil, representing Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, the 10th prosecution witness said he was not aware if the pictures were from a mobile phone that had been seized by police.
Asiah: I put it to you that when police were analysing the mobile phone’s content and completing a report on Aug 9, 2021, the mobile phone was with the police at all times. Agree?
Mior Samsul: Yes, the mobile phone was with me all the time.
However, he disagreed with Asiah when it was put to him that there were other officers who handled the mobile phone and leaked the pictures to the public.
Earlier, Mior Samsul said all the case items were analysed according to stipulated procedures and the equipment used to analyse was in good condition.
In his witness statement, he said that on July 22 last year, he received an application for an analysis to be conducted on an iPhone with a Maxis SIM card.
He said the request was from the investigating officer.
Siti Bainun, 30, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of neglect and abusing Bella, to the point of causing the girl to suffer physical and emotional injuries.
She is charged with committing the act at a condominium in Wangsa Maju between February and June last year under Section 31 (1) (a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years or a fine of RM50,000 or both on conviction.
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The trial before judge Izralizam Sanusi continues.