Crime & Courts

Ativa driven by cop hits motorcycle, runs over Zaharif's body - witness

IPOH: A witness told the High Court today that a Perodua Ativa driven by a senior police officer struck a student's motorcycle from behind before running over the victim's body in December last year.

The 10th prosecution witness, a 17-year-old boy, testified that he saw the front and rear right tyres of the Perodua Ativa run over the area between the abdomen and chest of Muhammad Zaharif Affendi Muhd Zamris.

He said that during the incident, he was standing by the roadside not far from the scene with four other friends, planning to head home together after school.

"I saw my senior, Zaharif, revving his Yamaha LC motorcycle a few times, producing a rather loud exhaust sound. I didn't know why he was doing this or for what reason.

"Suddenly, I saw the Ativa stop next to Zaharif's motorcycle. Shortly after, I noticed Zaharif's motorcycle moving away from the Ativa.

"My attention shifted back to Zaharif when my friends looked towards the mosque area (Masjid Muhammad Al-Fateh). At that moment, I saw the Ativa following closely behind Zaharif's motorcycle," he said while reading a written statement before Judge Datuk Bhupindar Singh Gucharan Singh Preet.

The witness said he then observed Zaharif's motorcycle and the Ativa going over a speed bump near the mosque, both vehicles moving at speed.

He continued, saying that upon reaching the intersection of Jalan Taman Jati 1 - Jalan Pekeliling Meru Indah, Zaharif slowed down, with his rear brake light visible.

"I saw the Ativa hit Zaharif from behind. The car did not stop before the collision.

"Zaharif was thrown backward and fell onto the road. I saw the front and rear right tyres of the Ativa run over the area between his abdomen and chest.

"Zaharif's head was under the car during the impact. I also saw the car stop at the roadside in front of the school," he added, noting that after witnessing the incident, he and his friends immediately approached the victim to offer assistance.

He recounted that a man exited the Perodua Ativa and, in an angry tone, instructed them to lift Zaharif to take him to the police station.

However, the witness hesitated, fearing for the safety of the victim's internal organs.

"After that, I picked up Zaharif's school belongings, like books and a helmet, to bring them to the side. At that moment, I didn't notice Zaharif being lifted.

"After gathering his belongings, I saw him in a semi-conscious and weak state. He was brought to the side by several people whom I couldn't identify due to the crowd," he said.

According to him, he saw the Ativa near Zaharif, with the man opening the back door, intending to take Zaharif to the station. However, those present stopped the man, concerned that he intended to bring the victim to the station instead of a hospital.

"After that, the man closed his car door and stayed to observe Zaharif's condition until Zaharif's sister and father arrived. He then got back in his car and left," he added.

During cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz, the witness said that when Zaharif slowed his motorcycle before the intersection, he still appeared able to control the vehicle.

When a video showing the collision between the Perodua Ativa and the Yamaha LC motorcycle was played in court, the witness confirmed that the vehicles in the footage matched what he saw at the scene.

The cross-examination by the defence counsel will continue tomorrow after the senior officer's lawyer, M. Athimulan, requested court permission for the defence team to visit the scene.

Judge Bhupindar then adjourned the trial to tomorrow morning.

Earlier today, the ninth prosecution witness, Ipoh City Council (MBI) Engineering Department Director Ridza'uddin Mohd Radzi, testified that there were two speed bumps and four speed limit signs near Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jati and Masjid Muhammad Al-Fateh.

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