Ebit Lew trial: Seized mobile phone suspected of containing criminal offence material

TENOM: A witness in the trial of preacher Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew, or Ebit Lew, told the Magistrate's Court on Thursday (Dec 22) that she suspected there was information related to a criminal offence in the mobile phone seized from the accused.

The fourth witness of the trial, ASP Siti Nooraini Mohd Sahid, explained the possibility of information or evidence that could lead to a criminal offence referring to either Lew or the plaintiff in the case.

She said this when cross-examined by lawyer Ram Singh, who represented Ebit Lew, when asked what was meant by "because there is reasonable doubt" in the police officer's testimony at the trial.

In a re-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Azizah Mohamad, ASP Siti Nooraini said the mobile phone was seized on Aug 19 last year, and no other mobile phone was produced by the accused at that time.

Meanwhile, Siti Nooraini disagreed when lawyer Ram Singh stated that the act of recording the testimony of a witness from a cyber security company, LGMS Bhd, was contempt of court because she was only carrying out her duties as instructed.

Siti Noraini also disagreed with Ram Singh's claim that the act of recording the testimony of the witness "may be liable for contempt".

Ram: You testified that you have interviewed and recorded an examiner Hoo Kah Yan's statement. Do you know that Hoo who has been senior digital forensic consultant of LGMS is potentially a defence witness?

Siti Nooraini: I am not sure.

Siti Nooraini said the report obtained from the company was needed by the police for analysis purposes to make a comparison with existing information or documents in the case.

Meanwhile, the fifth witness ASP Norfazliyani Zolkapeli in her testimony stated that she seized a blue Samsung Galaxy mobile phone, a Unifi SIM card and a memory card from the complainant on Aug 7 last year.

She said after the seizure was made, all the items in the case were handed over to the investigating officer, DSP Noor Asyikin Shamsuri, on the same day the seizure was made.

Lew, 37, faces 11 charges including insulting the modesty of a woman in her 40s by sending obscene words and pictures to the victim's phone number via WhatsApp between March and June last year.

The charge is under Section 509 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment or a fine or both, upon conviction.

The trial before Magistrate Nur Asyraf Zolhani continues on Feb 7 to 10 next year. - Bernama