Charged with hubby’s murder

Keeping calm: Nurima being led into the Tawau Magistrate’s Court to be charged even though the case is still being investigated.

KOTA KINABALU: A woman has been charged over the murder of her husband in a case, which is still ongoing, that saw the arrest of eight policemen, including a high-ranking officer with Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).

Nurima Juli, 33, was charged in the Tawau Magistrate’s Court with the murder of her ex-husband Nurman Bakaratu, 62, at an oil palm estate along Jalan Apas between 7.30pm and 9pm on Jan 13.

No plea was recorded from Nurima who was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code before Magistrate Mohd Dzul Elmi Yunus on Monday.

The court set March 6 for mention as the prosecution is waiting for the autopsy and chemistry reports in connection with the case.

The case will be transferred to the High Court before a plea is recorded. Nurima was not represented while the prosecution was led by Mohd Syahnidzam Ahmad.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah said investigations into the murder case were still ongoing although the woman was charged in court.

“We are continuing our investigations and gathering evidence in connection with the case,” he told reporters yesterday after attending the monthly Sabah police gathering at the Kepayan state police headquarters here.

The eight policemen working with Esscom, including four senior officers, were arrested in connection with the discovery of the body of a man found dead in a bush on Jan 16. A white Myvi was also found next to the victim’s body. It was later identified as Nurman, who worked as an e-hailing driver.

Comm Idris said police believe the real motive of the murder was jealousy as the woman was the wife of the victim.

“It is more of a personal matter and nothing to do with security matters,” he added.

He urged the public not to speculate on the case until investigations were completed.

A special team from Bukit Aman has been set up to investigate the case.