Missing millionaire's case was initially of cheating, say cops

KUALA LUMPUR - The first report on missing Indian millionaire Allal Kathan Muthuraja was investigated as a cheating case, police said yesterday.

The report was lodged by Muthuraja's brother, Dr Kasi Viswanathan, at the Klang police station on March 29.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Hussin Ismail said the report stated that Bukit Aman was holding Muthuraja for allegedly trafficking in drugs and that a sum of money was needed to secure his release.

"Initially, the report was investigated as a cheating case," said Hussin, adding that they had tried to locate Muthuraja then, but he could not be found.

The investigations, however, took a twist following a second report which was lodged by Muthuraja's wife, S. Usharani, at the Kuala Langat district police headquarters on September 8.

Usharani had lodged a missing person's report and after digging further, police linked that report to the murders of Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and her three aides.

"So, to say that we did not act on those reports earlier is not true," Hussin said at a press conference in Bukit Aman yesterday.

Since the investigations intensified recently, police have arrested two men who are believed to have extorted money from Muthuraja's family in Chennai, India.

The two men were picked up from their homes in Taman Wilayah, Selayang and Kampung Laksamana, Batu Caves, in the past 10 days.

The two had allegedly impersonated police officers from Bukit Aman to demand RM1 million (S$426,386) from Usharani to secure the release of her husband.

Usharani had told police that she received two calls, one from a caller claiming to be "ASP (assistant superintendent) Suresh" and the other who identified himself as "Inspector Muru".

Muthuraja, 37, was reported missing in January after coming here to meet two lawyer brothers who are now being investigated for eight murders and several fraud cases involving the sale and purchase of several parcels of land.

Hussin urged Muthuraja's family to remain calm and give police time to conduct their investigations.

Police had earlier said that they suspected Muthuraja could have been murdered but were awaiting DNA results to confirm this.

Hussin also urged the family not to listen to speculation on Muthuraja's disappearance but to only liaise with the police.

"We have appointed an officer to deal directly with the family," he said.

Apart from Usharani, Muthuraja's brothers - Kasi and Vijay Subramaniam - are also here to assist police in the investigations.

Yesterday, Usharani, Kasi and Vijay had their statements recorded separately at the Kuala Langat district police headquarters.

Usharani is at loggerheads with her brothers-in-law, claiming that they had threatened her to stop digging into Muthuraja's case and to return to India.

The woman, however, is adamant to stay on to see the case through.

The investigations into the Banting murders, which have taken almost a month, has caught the attention of major media organisations in India as well.

To date, police have arrested the two lawyer brothers from Banting, and six of their employees, all believed to be locals.

Police investigations so far have revealed that at least four victims - Sosilawati, her driver Kamarudin Shansudin, CIMB Bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad and lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim - were murdered at a poultry farm in Ladang Gadung, which belonged to the lawyer brothers.

The victims were said to have been beaten, stabbed and burnt before their remains were scattered in nearby rivers and streams.

Investigations into the four murders opened a can of worms when it was discovered that there could have been more victims.

Apart from Muthuraja, police have also began investigations into two other missing persons.

The two have been identified as electrical technician Shafik Abdullah of Sungai Petani, and businessman Thevaraj Shanmugam of Taiping. The two have been reported missing in April.

Another victim, housewife T. Selvi, who was murdered outside her home in Banting last year, could also have been a victim of the men currently under investigations.

Apart from Selvi, the bodies of the seven other victims have not been found.

Police have only found bone fragments in the rivers, which have been sent for DNA profiling to ascertain the identities.

Stop speculation over murder

THE public, politicians and the media, should refrain from sensationalism and speculation in the murder of Datuk Sosilawati and three others.

Enough has been said and the priority should now be to give the police time and peace of mind to conduct thorough investigations to bring to book the culprits.

Let the police complete their investigations professionally so that the case can be successfully prosecuted. Sensationalism and speculation will not bring back the dead but justice must be allowed to take its course devoid of influence.

Let the police gather all the evidence they need to ensure a credible prosecution of the case. Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail is right when he expressed concern over the murder probe blown out of proportion.

It is only common sense that statements made by several parties on the case would jeopardise investigations.

The media should report only the facts and refrain from speculation.

Like Gani, I also think everyone should follow the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar’s advice to cool down and leave the police to do their work.

Last Sunday, Ismail advised the media to stop reporting on speculation but to wait for police confirmation on any evidence.

The media had reported that two graves were found in the farm, the scene of the Banting murders.

Police have recovered bones and other evidence, and had picked up eight people, two of them lawyers, to help investigations.

When making a journalistic killing can be unethical

THE media went to town with the murders of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya, her driver Kamaruddin Shamsudin, bank officer Noorhisham Mohd and lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim.

This tragic incident filled the front pages of most newspapers and prime-time news bulletins since the murders were first revealed. The news continues to dominate the inside pages of dailies.

Such overwhelming coverage is not surprising given that violence and murder are deemed shocking and outrageous by society’s norms. But equally important is that violence and killings are also the very stuff that qualifies the so-called "news value" of tragedy, violence and calamity.

And to be sure, a crime like this one, which involved not only the snuffing out of lives but especially the alleged burning of human bodies, inevitably sparked a media frenzy. Crime news, especially ones that have the elements of sex and violence, also sells newspapers and other media.

And herein lies the problem. In the desire to attract more readers (or viewers), the media not only report the crime but also carry reports with elements of sensationalism, which may contravene journalistic ethics. In an economy where private media exist and whose survival is dependent on profits, sensationalist reporting can come into play even at the expense of ethical and responsible journalism.

Sensationalist journalism is one that exaggerates certain aspects of an incident or issue to attract and shock the audience.

It should be of concern to us all when the police took exception, for instance, to a report that alleged that Sosilawati and friends were "slaughtered", which wasn’t the case. The police rightly warned the parties concerned because of the sensationalist slant given to the murder case. The ghastly, especially when it was not true, may well hurt the feelings of the families of the deceased and enrage readers and friends of the murdered individuals.

It was equally malicious and mischievous of a certain report that alleged that Sosilawati was raped. This may make good copy but it runs counter to the ethics of good journalism.

Reporting of crimes should consider the following questions when pondering over the issue of ethical journalism: was the coverage of the story responsible, balanced, and fair? Did the media respect the rights and interests of the people being reported, and their families and friends, or was it too intrusive? Why did the media devote so much space to it and why did it take this angle when there were other options?

The Sosilawati murder case has also been covered with much enthusiasm because it involves a high-profile individual. In other words, this story meets the requirement of yet another news value, ie news that involves famous and powerful people. However, this inherently elitist approach to reporting has been criticised: if human life is sacred, why shouldn’t the death of an ordinary person be given similar emphasis or treatment as that of a VIP?

But journalistic ethics does not only encounter problems in crime reporting. Issues of ethnicity and religion also pose ethical dilemma and challenges to responsible journalists in Malaysia.

When a rabid and racist politician espouses his or her extremist stand in public, shouldn’t such articulation be dutifully reported? Or, in the name of ethnic harmony, should it be ignored? Such racist expression should be covered, but not necessarily using or quoting the exact inflammatory words. This is because shutting the racist up is tantamount to sweeping the dirt under the carpet. At the same time, a responsible journalist should also conscientiously seek the voice of moderation and reason to counter the racist statement.

Besides, this is to help readers understand better a particular issue from a broad range of perspectives, as opposed to only pandering to the egos of the extremist elements in society.

It is also hoped that balanced coverage of controversial issues of ethnicity and religion would go a long way towards encouraging discussions and debates in a civilised fashion.

In the case of the cow-head protest in Shah Alam, some media organisations had covered it as well as getting responses from government leaders, politicians and other concerned Malaysians. While this may be considered fair and adequate coverage, the media should also provide space for those ordinary people who relentlessly strive to build bridges. This is apart from providing the larger context to this conflict, which is essential to a deeper understanding of the issue.

In this particular incident, there was a small group of primarily Muslims who came to a Hindu temple to offer flowers and peace to the affected Hindu community in the vicinity. And yet, very few media organisations covered this socially and politically significant event. If this incident was covered, journalists would have helped in the local communities’ effort to build bridges and at the same time fulfilling their professional commitment to seeking truth and social justice.

DR. MUSTAFA K. Anuar teaches journalism at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

AG Concerned Sosilawati's Murder Case Blown Out Of Proportion

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail on Tuesday expressed his concern over the investigation into the murders of Datuk Sosilawati and three others being blown out of proportion.

He said this was due to statements made by several parties on the case, while the media should report only on facts without the extras because it would jeopardise the case.

"I think they should follow what the IGP (Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar) has advised. Cool it down and let us do our work.

"I think at the right time, when they (police) have completed their investigation, they will issue a proper statement and disclose everything. There is no problem with that," he told reporters after attending the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)'s Aidilfitri celebration, here Tuesday.

Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and MACC chief commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed.

He was asked whether the interference, with many parties including the family of the missing Indian businessman, coming forward to make statements, would harm the case.

Last Sunday, Ismail reminded the media not to write speculative stories on the cases, but to wait for confirmation from the police.

His reminder came in the wake of media reports that two graves had been found at the farm where the Banting murders had allegedly taken place.

Sosilawati, 47, her driver Kamaruddin Shansudin, 44, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, and CIMB bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad, 38, who were reported missing on Aug 30 after they had gone to Banting, Selangor, over a land deal, were killed, their bodies burnt and the ashes thrown into rivers in the vicinity of Ladang Gadong, near Banting, according to police.

The police recovered bones and other items from the rivers and had picked up eight people, two of them lawyers, to facilitate their investigation into the murders.

Asked if his office could assure the public that there would be results at the end of the investigation, Abdul Gani said: "As far as I'm concerned, in all investigations, something will happen, either we charge or don't charge. That is very definite."

On the investigation papers that had been returned to the police, he said there was no deadline for them to hand over the papers.

"I've got to wait for them to send (the investigation papers). Let them investigate the case properly because it involves public interest.

"I know they are working very hard and will give me the papers as soon as possible. I'm meeting them on a regular basis. In fact, almost daily," he said.

Asked about the areas for the police to re-investigate, he said: "A lot of areas, I can't be telling you the weaknesses."

-- BERNAMA

Lawyer In The Dark Over Fate Of Clients In Sosilawati Murder

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Lawyer Ravi Nekoo, who is representing two lawyer brothers detained in connection with the murder of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others, is still in the dark over the fate of his clients.

He is unsure when, or if, the two clients, and six other people -- linked to the four murders -- would be charged in court.

"My clients' remand orders will expire on Saturday. I have a hunch they may (either) be charged on Friday, or the police may decide to produce them before a magistrate to extend the remand," Ravi told Bernama on Tuesday.

He said since his clients, aged 38 and 41, are currently held under custody of the Selangor police contingent, he would write to acting Selangor Criminal Investigation Department chief Assistant Commissioner Omar Mammah to enable him (Nekoo) and another counsel to have access to the suspects.

"So far, only once, the police had granted us access to our clients, and also to their wives...but we want to meet them without the presence of police officers," he added.

Ravi pointed out that the law was very clear on the issue, as under Section 28A(5) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), it allowed counsel to have access within sight of police officers, but not hearing.

"In other words, they (police) can witness when we are talking to our clients but they can't follow the conversation.

"We need complete privacy in this matter, which was denied during the first visit," he disclosed.

He said the police were relying on Section 28A(8) of the CPC by saying that the defence counsels might tamper with evidence, or fear the suspects might abscond.

Sosilawati, 47, her driver, Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, and CIMB Bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad, 38, went missing on Aug 30, after they had gone to Banting, Selangor over a land deal.

On Sept 12, police confirmed that the four were killed, their bodies burnt and the ashes strewn in rivers near Ladang Gadong, Tanjung Sepat near Banting.

"They already had more than 14 days in gathering evidence from the suspects...now, let us have access to our clients," said Ravi, who also asked the police to allow the six other suspects in the case to have access to counsel.

Currently, he said, only his wife, Pushpa Ratnam, and he were in the defence team while another lawyer, D. P. Vijandran, had not decided whether to be involved in the team.

Rita Wants To Continue Mother's Legacy

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Erni Dekritawati Bukhari, 25, wants to continue the legacy of her mother Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya for the future of her siblings.

Rita as she is fondly known said some people may consider her as young to handle the task but said she had a good teacher in her mother.

"I am prepared for the challenge and keen for some healthy competition," said the eldest sibling who considered Sosilawati and her father Buhari Mohamad as mentor.

Accompanied by close friend Bernama Tv reporter Zulkifli Bujang, Rita said the family was learning to cope with her mother's tragic death and had to be strong for the other five siblings.

"We have accepted reality but are still sad with her death. I will continue from where my mother left off," she said in the Radio 24 programme "Kerusi Panas" helmed by Azlan Idris tonight.

Rita expressed dismay with media reports that exposed assets belonging to the company owned by her late mother.

"They contained the wrong facts. I told the media that all information should first be referred to the police."

She did not want to dwell on her relationship with Zulkifli until all matters relating to her mother's death were resolved.

"I plea with the media not to expose private matters as it can create problems in future. Please respect my privacy."

Rita thanked Malaysians who supported her since news on the murder of her mother and three others spread.

Sosilawati,47, her driver Kamarudin Shamsuddin,44, CIMB bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad,38 and lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim,32, were reported missing on Aug 30 after going to Banting to discuss a land deal.

They were bludgeoned to death, burnt and their ashes strewn in a river in Ladang Gadong, Tanjung Sepat near Banting.

-- BERNAMA

Suspects Taken To Ladang Gadong To Help Find New Evidence

BANTING, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Four suspects believed responsible for the murder of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others were again taken to Ladang Gadong.

The suspects clad in orange prison attire arrived in a police van at 11.20am Monday to help the forensic team find new evidence.

Police took them away at 3.30pm after no new evidence was found during the four hour search operation.

The search for new evidence in the high profile murder case that has gripped the nation will continue Tuesday.

Sosilawati, 47, her driver Kamarudin Shansuddin,44, CIMB Bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad, 38, and lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, were reported missing on Aug 30 after a meeting here over a land matter.

The foursome were bludgeoned to death, burnt and their ashes strewn in a river in Ladang Gadong, Tanjung Sepat near here.

-- BERNAMA