Remand for eight cops extended another week in murder probe

KOTA KINABALU: Eight policemen including a high-ranking Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) officer have been remanded another week in connection with the murder of a man in Tawau.

Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus allowed the seven-day extension of the remand of the policemen in proceedings held at the Tawau district police headquarters on Wednesday (Feb 1).

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The eight – four officers and four rank-and-file policemen with Esscom – were arrested a week ago in connection with the murder of 62-year-old Nurman Bakaratu, whose decomposing body was found at an oil palm plantation on Jan 16.

The remand extension comes two days after Nurman's 33-year-old wife, Nurima Juli, was charged with his murder at the Tawau Magistrate's Court on Monday (Jan 30).

On Tuesday (Jan 31), Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah told reporters that investigations were still ongoing.

He said the case had nothing to do with security matters but was motivated by jealousy as the deceased was married to the woman charged in court.

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He said a total of eight policemen and three civilians (including the woman) had been arrested.

Comm Idris said that they were still gathering evidence and building the case before forwarding investigation papers to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further action.

The decomposing body of Nurman, a ehailing driver, was discovered at the oil palm estate on Jan 16. It led to the arrests of his wife and subsequently followed up with police detaining eight policemen including a Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) with Esscom.

A special investigation team from Bukit Aman is carrying out the investigations.