Richard recalls traumatic day identifying his brother

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Richard Morais, the youngest brother of Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Datuk Anthony Kevin Morais, recalled the day he had to identify his dead brother’s body five years ago.

The body, found in a drum filled with concrete, was badly mangled and decomposed.

“I lost all thought and became hysterical,” he told the press here yesterday.

Richard was reading from his victim impact statement (VIS) outside the High Court after it delivered its decision at the end of the defence case in his brother’s murder.

“My life as I know it will never be the same. I say this, no one should go through the trauma of seeing your loved one in such a condition,” said a distraught Richard.

Kevin’s body was so unrecognisable that Richard had to give his blood sample for a positive DNA match.

“Once it was confirmed, my task was to give my brother his final rites.

“To finally lay him down to rest in the manner a man of his stature should be given,” he said.

Richard said he later learned that Kevin was murdered in the line of duty while pursuing a corruption case of a senior army colonel who was charged by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for several corruption cases.

“I also discovered that the colonel then hired five henchmen who abetted the kidnapping and murder of my brother, Kevin. These five men and the colonel are all present in court today,” he added.

Richard said the court’s decision would not change the fact that Kevin was gone.

He described his brother as a fantastic and dedicated DPP, a loving and caring brother, a supportive and loyal friend.

“But finally I hope this court will give us closure knowing these criminals will pay for their crimes and will never be allowed to rejoin society again,” he said.

DPP Saiful Edris Zainuddin, who was Kevin’s personal friend and prosecutor in the case, said he was happy with the court’s decision as he had known Kevin since the deceased’s days as a magistrate in Perak.

“I feel a little bit emotional as I had a very good relationship with Morais.

“Everybody seems to forget about this case and focus on other high-profile cases.

“I am here too in solidarity with my friend who lost his life,” he said.

Crime Prevention Board chairman and soon-to-be Solicitor-General Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, who was Kevin’s superior at one point, said he came with a group of officers from the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Judicial and Legal Service Officers Association of Malaysia to show their support for the late Kevin and expressed concern over their safety at work.

“Most of the officers here have worked with him (Kevin).

“They really appreciate the court’s decision. Now we have to think of the safety of prosecutors in the future,” he said.