SUNDAY-9TH DECEMBER 2007-AZLAN'S CASE PROBE COMPLETED, HANDED OVER TO DPP OFFICE

Azlan’s case probe completed, handed over to DPP office: CP
KOTA KINABALU:
The Deputy Public Prosecutor is expected to decide on the next move on the baffling death of 24-year-old Azlan Amir Kahar last week. Police have turned in all the investigation notes concerning the high profile case to the DPP’s office, according to Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim. “All concerns and doubts raised by the family were noted by us and we have explained it to the family,” he said yesterday. “We have completed our investigations and the matter is now in the hands of the DPP. The next course of action is up to them.” Rashid said this when responding to the “unhappiness” of Azlan’s mother Datin Aminah Ambrose who questioned the police investigations that allegedly failed to look at the various injuries found on Azlan’s body. Aminah is the wife of Banggi assemblyman Datuk Amir Kahar Tun Mustapha, who is the son of Sabah former Chief Minister, the late Tun Datu Mustapha Harun. The shocking death of Azlan sent shockwaves through the local community, more so when the tragedy was said to have taken place in the home of his fiancee, a fellow student and part- time model. The 21-year-old fiancee was remanded for five days by police after she lodged a police report and was later released on police bail. Police have said that Azlan died of heart failure following a post-mortem, but his family is disputing the finding, as they claimed that the victim’s body bore bruise marks all over and there were gashes in the back of his head. Rashid said that based on the postmortem report, the injuries sustained were not the cause of death though the victim was assaulted. “It will be up to the DPP to decide whether to hold an inquest or charge her for assault. I think things would become clearer then,” he said, adding that police classification of the case remains under Section 302 of the Penal Code.