FORMER Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) intelligence chief Mat Zaki Md Zain, six policemen and a civilian pleaded not guilty at the Tawau High Court today to charges of murdering an e-hailing driver early this year.

The charges against Zaki, policemen Rosdi Rastam, 44; Denis Ak Anit, 44; Fabian Ak Rungam, 43; Khairul Azman Bakar, 47; Mohd Azlan Sakaran, 39; and John Kennedy Sanggah, 44, as well as civilian Vivien Fabian, 34, was read out before judge Lim Hock Leng.

Rosdi, Denis, Fabian, Khairul, Azlan, Kennedy and Vivien were jointly charged with murdering Nurman Bakaratu, 61, at an oil palm plantation near Jalan Anjur Juara, Jalan Apas Batu 5, Tawau between 7.30pm and 11.30pm on January 13.

The charge, framed under section 302 of the penal code and read together with section 34 of the same code, provides for the death penalty upon conviction.

Zaki is facing two charges of abetment to kill Nurman with the seven accused under section 109 of the penal code, read together with section 302 of the same code.

The court fixed January 2 until April next year for trial.

On February 8, Rosdi, Denis, Fabian, Khairul, Azlan and Vivien were charged in a magistrate’s court in Tawau with murdering Nurman, while Zaki was charged with abetting the murder.

Kennedy was initially a prosecution witness, but on April 11, he was charged in a magistrate’s court in Tawau with murdering Nurman.

On July 7, Zaki was charged in a magistrate’s court in Tawau with abetting Kennedy to murder Nurman. – Bernama, July 25, 2023.