Monday, August 25, 2008

Nurin pix culprit known ...... since November 2007

"THE authorities have identified the culprit responsible for circulating post-mortem pictures of child murder victim Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, Harian Metro reported.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar was quoted as saying that the case has been taken over by Bukit Aman.

Nurin’s father Jazimin Abdul Jalil, 34, had on Thursday filed a negligence suit against the police and Government over post-mortem photographs of his daughter appearing online." - Star Online


The above news items appeared at most other newspapers reporting Datuk Khalid's reaction on the suit filed by Jazimin last Thursday.

Ironically, such statement was actually made by none other than the Inspector General himself as early as November 3rd, 2007, almost TEN months ago.

To recap, here's the news item carried by Bernama on that particular day :-

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- The identity of the individual responsible for distributing the autopsy pictures of murdered Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, eight, has been identified and will be charged in court soon.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan who disclosed this Friday night, said the investigation had been completed.

"We have identified the person and he will be charged soon. We will inform the media when we are ready to charge him," he told reporters after a police Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at the Police Training Centre here.

He said the police could not provide more details on the individual as investigations into Nurin's murder case were still ongoing.

The autopsy pictures of Nurin, a Year Two pupil of Sekolah Kebangsaan Desa Setapak who went missing in August and whose dead body was found stuffed in a sports bag in the PJS area on Sept 20, were widely distributed through the Internet last month.


Can anyone now blame Nurin's parents for filing the suit after such a long period of lull with no charges, no news after almost ten months! Put yourself in Nurin's parents shoes, only then you'll understand.

Jasni AJ

Khalid: We did our best in Nurin probe

SUBANG JAYA: The Selangor police chief yesterday said he was satisfied with the way his men had carried out the probe into the sexual assault and murder of 8-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin.

Responding to the civil suits filed by Nurin's father, Jazimin Abdul Jalil, last Thursday, Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said: "My men have done their best in the investigation and I have no complaints. I am a bit disappointed by the suits but I will take them in stride."

Khalid said this after the launch of a crime-prevention seminar at a hotel here yesterday in conjunction with the National Crime Prevention Month.

"This is part and parcel of the job, and my men and I will not dwell on this matter.

"Nurin's case is still open.

"He has the right to file the civil suits but they will not discourage my men from carrying out their duties and responsibilities.

"Once the DNA Profiling Act is passed by Parliament, it will give a new dimension to the case."

The DNA Identification Bill 2008, in the pipeline since 2001, seeks to make the extraction of DNA samples from the accused compulsory in some instances.

On Thursday, Jazimin filed two suits against the police and the government at the Kuala Lumpur High Court Registry for negligence and defamation. The suits, which were filed through Messrs Akbardin & Co, coincided with the girl's one-year death anniversary.

Jazimin is suing the police and government over circulation of Nurin's post-mortem pictures over the Internet and on their alleged defamatory statements that he lost his daughter because of his alleged involvement with loan sharks.

The Inspector-General of Police, Selangor police chief, Petaling Jaya police chief and the government were named as defendants.

Jazimin, claimed that the defendants were negligent in allowing the photos to be circulated on the Internet which traumatised his family.

In the defamation suit, Jazimin sued the police and the government for RM2 million in general damages, exemplary and aggravated damages for tarnishing his reputation.

Nurin, a Year Two pupil of SK Desa Setapak, was abducted some 500m from her house in Section 1, Wangsa Maju on Aug 20 last year.

Her sexually ravaged body was found in a sports bag outside a shoplot in PJS 1, Petaling Jaya, 28 days later.

Khalid also voiced his concern that certain goldsmiths in the state had installed sub-standard surveillance equipment.

"Sometimes when a robbery occurs at a goldsmith and police review the closed-circuit television camera recordings to identify the suspects, the image is unclear or blurry.

"There were instances where there were no images at all."

Meanwhile, Nurin Jazlin's family held a prayer session yesterday to commemorate the first anniversary of her disappearance.

The prayer was held at the family's home at the Kampung Baru Air Panas flats in Setapak. It was attended by more than 250 people.

- Sunday Times

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Kes Nurin Tidak Akan Ditutup Meskipun Bapanya Saman Polis


PETALING JAYA, 23 Ogos (Bernama) -- Polis tidak akan sesekali menghentikan siasatan kes pembunuhan Nurin Jazlin malahan akan terus memburu pembunuh kanak-kanak malang itu biarpun bapa kanak-kanak itu, Jazimin Abdul Jalil memfailkan saman terhadap pasukan polis.

Ketua Polis Selangor Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar menegaskan polis tidak akan menutup kes pembunuhan tersebut hanya kerana berhadapan dengan kes saman itu bahkan masih mengumpul bukti-bukti bagi mengesan penjenayah terbabit.

"Tanggungjawab pihak polis untuk mengesan penjenayah akan tetap diteruskan. Itu hak beliau untuk saman sekiranya berasakan kami bersalah.. sekiranya beliau tetap tidak berpuas hati.

"Apa yang saya boleh katakan, seluruh pasukan polis termasuk pegawai-pegawai saya sudah dan akan terus melakukan yang terbaik dalam mengesan pembunuh Nurin justeru tidak benarlah sekiranya polis dikatakan menghentikan siasatan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri seminar pencegahan jenayah sempena Bulan Pencegahan Jenayah di sini Sabtu.

Beliau tidak menafikan timbul sedikit perasaan kecewa atas tindakan Jazimin memfailkan saman terhadap pasukan polis tetapi beliau menganggapnya sebagai asam garam dalam menjalankan tugas sebagai ketua polis.

"Saya sedikit kecewa tetapi ini tidak akan sesekali melemahkan semangat kami, kes saman menyaman saya lihat sebagai asam garam. Kalau kita nak fikirkan sangat pasal saman itu, nanti kerja lain pula yang tidak terbuat," katanya.

Ditanya mengenai penyebaran gambar autopsi Nurin, Khalid berkata polis sudah mengenalpasti individu yang terlibat tetapi enggan mengulas lanjut berikutan ia bukan di bawah bidang kuasa beliau.

"Kes berkenaan kini diambil alih Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Bukit Aman dan ia kini terpulang kepada pegawai polis berkaitan (yang menyiasat kes itu) untuk mengambil tindakan selanjutnya," katanya.

Jazimin, 34, memfailkan dua saman terhadap polis dan kerajaan Malaysia pada Khamis lepas berhubung penyebaran gambar autopsi anaknya melalui internet dan pernyataan fitnah kononnya beliau kehilangan Nurin kerana terlibat dengan ceti haram, 'Ah Long'.

Pekerja di syarikat keselamatan itu memfailkan saman kecuaian dan saman fitnah di pejabat pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi Sivil Kuala Lumpur dan menamakan Khalid selain Ketua Polis Negara, Ketua Polis Daerah Petaling Jaya dan Kerajaan Malaysia sebagai defendan.

Rabu lepas genap setahun kehilangan Nurin yang berlaku semasa kanak-kanak itu keluar seorang diri ke pasar malam berhampiran rumahnya di Seksyen 1, Wangsa Maju, sebelum mayatnya dijumpai pada 17 Sept tahun lepas di dalam beg sukan di Jalan PJS 1/48, Taman Petaling Utama, selepas 27 hari kehilangannya.

Khalid berkata pihaknya turut berharap supaya Rang Undang-Undang Identifikasi Asid Deoksiribonukleik (DNA) 2008 dapat diluluskan segera bagi memudahkan tangkapan penjenayah dilakukan terutamanya bagi kes jenayah yang sukar dikesan seperti rogol, rompakan bersenjata dan bunuh.

Sementara itu, beliau menasihatkan pemilik-pemilik premis perniagaan agar memasang kamera litar tertutup (CCTV) yang bermutu tinggi agar apabila sesuatu kejadian jenayah berlaku, suspek mudah dikenalpasti.

"Banyak premis terutamanya kedai emas memasang CCTV yang kualitinya rendah justeru rakaman imej menjadi kurang jelas dan ini menyukarkan kerja untuk mengecam suspek apabila berlaku sesuatu perkara yang tidak diingini," katanya.

- BERNAMA

Sekitar Majlis Tahlil Arwah Nurin Ulangtahun Pertama

Tanpa kita sedari, sudah genap setahun Arwah Nurin diculik. Petang Selasa 20 Ogos 2007 adalah kali terakhir ibubapanya melihat Nurin dalam keadaan hidup. 27 hari kemudian, mayatnya yang terkujur layu kesan penderaan telah dijumpainya dan setelah disahkan identiti mayat itu, akhirnya jenazahnya sempurna disemadikan.

Peristiwa yang menyayat hati ini pasti sudah sukar dilupakan. Bagi mengenang arwah Nurin, satu majlis tahlil sempena perginya Arwah Nurin selama setahun telah diadakan malam tadi.
Majlis yang hampir secara keseluruhannya dipenuhi oleh jiran-jiran setempat mengingatkan mereka betapa pentingnya memastikan keselamatan anak-anak mereka agar sentiasa terjamin kerana penjenayah tidak memilih mangsa. Yang pasti, anak siapapun boleh menjadi mangsa penjenayah gila ini.

Masyarakat mengetahui yang sehingga setakat ini, penjenayah itu masih belum dikenalpasti dan oleh itu ia mungkin sahaja berada dimana-mana, mencari mangsa barunya. Oleh itu, berwaspadalah. Jangan sekali-kali kita memikirkan yang malang tidak akan terjadi kepada kita kerana anggapan yang ianya hanya akan berlaku kepada ibubapa bermasalah sahaja, satu andaian yang mendorong Jazimin untuk mengambil tindakan saman terhadap pihak polis dan kerajaan Malaysia yang telah cuba memberikan sebab-sebab terjadinya tragedi Nurin di peringkat awal dan tidak pernah diperbetulkan sehingga hari ini.
Berbalik kepada majlis tahlil itu, para hadiran yang hampir mencecah 300 orang itu telah disajikan dengan jamuan tajaan Ali Maju Restoran, sebuah syarikat yang telah sentiasa menyokong ibubapa Nurin dalam mengharungi keperitan kehilangan anak mereka sejak dari awal lagi.

Semoga roh arwah Nurin sentiasa terpelihara. Amin.

Jasni AJ

Friday, August 22, 2008

Nurin Murder Case: Dead end at every turn for investigators


By : V. Shuman

KUALA LUMPUR: It was by far one of the largest police investigations and even included the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington.

But despite several arrests no one was charged with the abduction and murder of Nurin Jazlin Jazimin

The Year Two pupil of SK Desa Setapak was abducted some 500m from her house in Section 1, Wangsa Maju.

Her frantic family made numerous appeals to her abductors to free the girl as she suffered from hypertension and kidney ailments.

When Nurin did turn up 28 days after she went missing, it was in a sports bag left at the foot of a staircase in a shoplot in Petaling Jaya Selatan.

Police obtained the tape from a closed-circuit television camera from an adjacent shoplot, and released footage that showed a man arriving at the scene on a motorcycle, carrying a sports bag and leaving empty-handed.

The CCTV tape was sent to FBI headquarters to enhance the footage, but they could not obtain a clear image of the registration number of the suspect's motorcycle.

The closest thing to a lead from the tape was a blurry image of the suspect, which was released to the media.

Several days later, five people were picked up in several raids in Shah Alam and a watching nation thought justice would finally be served.

However, one of the five, a pregnant woman, was released soon after and the release of the four detained men would follow not much later.

Then, on Sept 29, an Indonesian woman was arrested when it was found that she had, in the preceding weeks, sent text messages to Nurin's father, claiming she had the girl. The woman, however, swallowed the subscriber identity module (SIM) card of the cell phone investigators thought contained evidence linking her with the murder.

Their hopes were dashed, however, when the SIM card, when it was finally flushed out, proved too damaged to have any data extracted.

The lack of evidence meant the foreign woman had to be released, albeit into the "care" of the Immigration Department as she had no valid travel documents.

On Oct 11, police released two more segments of the CCTV recordings showing three men in a Perodua Kenari and a woman wearing a red T-shirt and jeans.

The three men soon turned themselves in but were found to have not been involved in the case. The "woman" in the red T-shirt, meanwhile, turned out to be a 15-year-old girl, who was also released after questioning.

The search for the perpetrators continued as police promised they would not forget Nurin, but it was not until January this year that more arrests were made.

A security guard and a drug addict were picked up, but released four days later, even before their remand orders had expired.

Two months later, Federal CID director Datuk Bakri Zinin, while claiming that the file on Nurin was still open, added that police had failed to solve the case.

- The New Straits Times

Thursday, August 21, 2008

More details on Jazimin's Suit Against the Police : From Bernama News Report


KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Jazimin Abdul Jalil, father of Nurin Jazlin, who went missing and was later found murdered, filed two suits against the police and the government Thursday, for neligence and defamation.

The suits were over the circulation of pictures on the post-mortem on Nurin and the alleged defamatory statement that he lost his daughter because of involvement with "Ah Long" or loan sharks.

Jazimin, 34, filed the suits at the Civil High Court registry.

He is seeking general, exemplary and aggravated damages, interest, cost and other reliefs deemed fit by the court in the negligence suit but did not specify the amount.

He named the Inspector-General of Police, Selangor police chief, Petaling Jaya district police chief and the government of Malaysia as defendants.

In the defamation suit, he is seeking RM2 million in general damages, exemplary and aggravated damages and damages for tarnishing his reputation.

He also wants an injunction to restrain the defendants from further spreading the alleged defamation, both orally and in writing in the media and an apology in the local newspapers and a withdrawal of the statement.

Jazimin's lawyer, Akberdin taking questions from journalists at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex (Photo : Jasni AJ)

Jazimin, who was present with his lawyer, Akbardin Abdul Kader, and brother, Jasni, named the Selangor police chief, Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, Inspector-General of Police and the government as defendants in the defamation suit.

Nurin went missing on Aug 20 last year after she went to the night market near her home in Section 1, Wangsa Maju here. He body was found stuffed in a bag 27 days later.

Jazimin told reporters that he filed the suits to clear his name and correct the misconception given to the pulbic that he lost his second child because of dealings with loan sharks.

He was also disappointed with the police for their negligence which resulted in photos of the post-mortem on Nurin being circulated and questioned why no one had been charged so far.

Jazimin, a worker with a security company, claimed in the negiligence suit that several photos on the post-mortem, which he gave to the defendants for police investigation, were circulated to the public via e-mail in September last year.

He lodged a police report on Oct 9, asking the police to stop the circulation by whatever means because the photos were for police investigation into his daughter's abduction and murder.

- BERNAMA

Nurin's Father Has Right To Sue Police - CID Chief


KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Bukit Aman CID director Datuk Bakri Zinin said police cannot stop Jazimin Abdul Jalil, the father of murdered Nurin Jazlin from suing the force.

"If he sues the police, then we will study it. Sometimes, we too can make mistakes," he said when asked to comment on newspaper reports that Jazimin will file a civil suit against the police and government in the Kuala Lumpur High Court Thursday.

Reports said Jazimin would be asking for compensation and retraction of reports that implied he was involved with loans sharks (Ah Long) and an apology over the distribution of Nurin's post-mortem photographs.

Bakri said Nurin's family should not lay all blame on the police and that they were still collecting information to track down the murderers.

"We are not obliged to tell the family members what we do all the time as we have our own strategy in investigating the case."

He said police did not investigate based on emotion but according to needs and based on available proof adding it could not be solved without information form the public.

Nurin, 8, was found dead in a gym bag in front of a shop in Jalan PJS1, Petaling Jaya on Sept 17, 2007.

-- BERNAMA

EDITORIAL: Keep the candle lit


A YEAR after the abduction and murder of Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, we must take pause to observe this sad anniversary in all sympathy for her bereaved family — as indeed for that of Sharlinie Nashar, lost in similar circumstances eight months ago and not yet found.

The contrasting fates of the children in these two cases raised the most awful conundrum: would it be kinder for such families to know their child is dead, to retrieve her remains for a proper burial in a consecrated grave where they might mourn and pray for her, or to never know what became of her, the better for hope to remain? Such unthinkable dilemmas are universal; the cases of Briton Madeleine McCann last year, American Jon- Benet Ramsey in 1996, and even the Azaria Chamberlain “dingo” case in Australia 28 years ago, all strike to the same depth of anguish.

It would be almost as cruel to suggest the police do not feel just as wretched at such cases as Nur in’s and Sharlinie’s. But when they have to admit total failure in their investigations, it’s entirely understandable for Nurin’s father Jazimin Jalil to chastise them for not having at least done what they could against those who so callously leaked his daughter’s autopsy pictures and distributed them over cellphones. The police can and should make an example of those who would draw salacious pleasure from such horrors, as some cold comfort to offset their failure to track down the monster who did what was done to that child.

Let the harsh lessons be learned. In the society we live in today, those who perpetrate the most heinous of crimes against children seem to have ample scope to simply vanish, either into the interstices of our own communities or over borders.

As in the case of the little boy, Mohd Nazrin Shamsul, who wandered away from a department store in Kuala Lumpur in March 2007 and was taken in by a Myanmar family for a fortnight, it is possible for massively publicised searches to go completely unnoticed by many who reside among us.

There was a happy ending for “Yin”, but not for Nurin or Ninie. Jazimin’s wish to set up an organisation to help victims of such crimes is laudable, not least for underscoring that citizens must take responsibility for their own children’s welfare, and not leave their protection entirely to the authorities. These childrenwere taken within metres of their homes. Vigilance, like charity, must therefore begin there.

- New Straits Times

Nurin Jazlin's father sues cops, govt

Thursday August 21, 2008 MYT 11:35:22 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: Nurin Jazlin’s father Jazimin Abdul Jalil filed a defamation suit Thursday against the police and the Government for allegedly accusing him of borrowing money from Ah Long.

He also filed a negligence suit against both parties for allowing his daughter Nurin Jazlin’s post-mortem photos to be released online.

Both suits were filed 10.30am Thursday at the Jalan Duta High Court Civil Registry.

- Star Online

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

One year on — and her killer still walks among us: Nurin’s family suing police...

By : Fadhal A Ghani

KUALA LUMPUR: A year ago today, Nurin Jazlin Jazimin was forcibly taken away from her family which started a saga which horrified the nation.

A month later, the sexually ravaged body of the eight-year-old was found in a sports bag outside a shoplot in PJS 1, Petaling Jaya.

It sparked a massive manhunt with a reward of more than RM20,000 offered for information leading to her killer's whereabouts. The reward and the manhunt yielded nothing.

Nurin's family, meanwhile, was subjected to more pain when a newspaper report stated that police were looking at the possibility that Nurin could have been taken away by loan sharks, implying that the family had dealings with Ah Long.

But the biggest blow came when post-mortem pictures of Nurin started circulating on the Internet. That, for the family, was the last straw.

After waiting for a year, the family has decided to fight back. Tomorrow, they will be filing a suit at the Kuala Lumpur High court against the police and the government.

They will be seeking damages, a public apology and retraction of the newspaper article linking the family with loan sharks. They are seeking an apology and damages for lack of security which led to the circulation of Nurin's post-mortem photographs.

Nurin's parents, Jazimin Abdul Jalil and Norazian Bistaman, yesterday expressed frustration over the whole episode.

"How can her post-mortem photographs be on the Internet? This was a police case, the photos are supposed to be confidential and classified," said an exasperated Jazimin.

"Haven't we suffered enough losing our daughter? Why put us through further misery by circulating her post-mortem photographs?"

The family is particularly upset that no one was charged with further violating Nurin's memory even though, at the height of the incident, police had claimed that the culprits were identified.

On Jazimin's alleged involvement with loan sharks, the father of three described the allegation as ridiculous.

"What Ah Long? I have never known or approached any loan shark," he said at his flat in Kampung Baru Air Panas, Setapak.

Jazimin claimed that, to further add insult to injury, he and his wife were even investigated for negligence.

Nurin was abducted when she was returning to her home in Section One, Wangsa Maju, after visiting a night market with her sister.

"Why were we investigated? Our daughter was abducted and murdered and they want to punish us."

Jazimin said he felt police had given up the search for his daughter's killer and had given up hope of positive news on the case.

"Does the task force still exist?" asked the father, refering to a special police squad initially set up to find the missing girl and later to investigate her murder.

Jazimin, however, was thankful for the support and help given by the public and has set up a security firm to repay the public for their kindness.

"I want to do my part in ensuring no family will have to go through what we underwent in the past year."

Jazimin and his wife have three other daughters -- Nurin Jazshira, 10, Nurin Jazrina, seven, and Nurin Jazlisa, two.

They will be holding a kenduri soon to commemorate the first anniversary of Nurin's death.

- New Straits Times

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Still hopeful of finding Sharlinie



“WITHOUT Nini around, our house has been quiet. She was always chattering about one thing or another. She had just learnt how to talk, you see,” the voice of the clearly anguished mother trails off quietly.

It has been almost eight months since Suraya Ahmad, 28, last saw her daughter Nini, or Sharlinie Mohd Nashar. Nini, five, went missing while playing at a playground about 200m from her house in Taman Datuk Harun in Petaling Jaya in January.

Although their hope of finding her is fading fast, her family vows to never give up looking for her.

The terrifying tale of a 13-year old abducted girl who saw a picture of Sharlinie in the van she was held captive in before she escaped could not shatter their hope in getting their daughter back.

It was reported that five men in a van tried to abduct the Form One student while she was waiting at a bus stop near Sungai Kapar Indah in Klang more than a week ago.

The girl claimed that besides seeing Sharlinie's photograph in the van, there were also pictures of other young girls, some with faces marked with an “X”.


“We don't know if we will see her again and many have even told us that they think it is too late, she is already gone. But until a body is found, we will still hope and search for her where we can,” says her uncle Yazrin Abdul Aziz.

Waiting with hope: Suraya looking through Sharlinie’s new clothes from last Hari Raya with her daughters Nurul Amirah (left) and Sharliena. The family still hopes for the safe return of their youngest member.

He says that his family, especially Sharlinie's father Mohd Nashar, still go out to look for the missing girl.

“Her father will follow any lead he gets. He’s mostly been to pasar malams, parks and other public areas. Sometimes we get worried about him. He was the closest to Sharlinie, so he is really taking it very hard.”

He adds that Mohd Nashar even travelled to Surabaya, Indonesia, last April in search of his missing daughter. However, like all previous leads, it had led to nowhere.

Yazrin says his brother-in-law has fallen into a worrying routine.

“Previously, when he comes home from work, he will play with Sharlinie and the whole house will be filled by her laughter and squeals. Now he comes home and sits quietly in the corner, deep in thought.”

That is why the family hopes that members of the public will not lead them on any wild goose chases.

“We appreciate all the help and leads that people have offered but we hope people can be considerate and verify the leads before informing us or the police. It is hard on us and we are especially worried about her father. We are scared because we can see that it is slowly eating him up. He loves her so much,” he says.

According to Yazrin, information on the hotline has frittered down and the last time the family heard anything from the police was over two months ago.

“We don't blame the police for not solving the case; we understand that they are doing the best they can. It is just sometimes hard to keep faith when we don't hear anything from them.”

Sharlinie's disappearance has definitely taken a toll on the whole family but for now, says Yazrin, they can only hope and pray that they will get to see her again.

“We all miss her. Her sisters, Sharliena (eight) and Nurul Amirah (11), sometimes ask why she does not want to come home. I don't know what to say,” says Suraya.

“We appeal to those who have her to return her to us safely. We appeal to the public not to forget about Sharlinie and still keep an eye out for her. Please help us find her.”

- Sunday Star

Monday, August 11, 2008

The search must go on

Stories by HARIATI AZIZAN

Come Aug 20, it will be a year since Nurin Jazlin Jazimin was abducted and brutally murdered. The perpetrator has yet to be caught, and there are other cases of missing children that still remain unsolved.




SOMEONE knocked on my door and asked, 'Excuse me sir, have you seen this missing girl?' “ Jazimin Abdul Jalil wryly recalls the way police rallied to find his daughter Nurin Jazlin Jazimin when she first went missing.

They were conducting a house-to-house search for her, he says, and the cop at the door was earnest.

“I was so annoyed that I decided to play along. I said, ‘I don’t know, let me see the picture.' He showed me the picture and sure enough, it was my daughter. I told him, ‘Encik, ini anak saya. How were you briefed?’ He got very embarrassed and quickly apologised. He then said that he was new!”

Jazimin sighs.

Unfortunately, as we all know, the story did not end well. His little girl's naked body was found stuffed in a sports bag near a shoplot in Petaling Utama a month later. She had been cruelly assaulted. Now, almost a year after her abduction, her case remains unsolved.

Jazimin, a former taxi driver, shares that he was close to giving up on the police.

“We have not heard from the police for a while now. They have stopped updating us about any progress in the case. It sometimes seems like the case is closed and police are not bothered about justice,” he says stoically.

In April, the police assured that Nurin Jazlin's case, as well as that of Sharlinie Mohd Nashar, will not be closed even if it takes more than 20 years to solve.

CID chief Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin even assured that he was personally handling these cases.

Recently, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Noriah Kasnon told Parliament that about 242 children were reported missing between January and March, out of which only half have been found. Many more children who disappeared remain missing.

Says one parent, Tan Teng Hok, “Police say their crime-solving rate is about 40%, higher than the Interpol benchmark of 20%, but what I can see is that it has failed to resolve a large proportion of crimes, especially for cases of missing children and sexually-assaulted children. Nurin's case is still unsolved. Even with posters all around, Sharlinie has yet to be found.”

Tan says that the police rarely patrol round his housing area in Petaling Jaya.

“The only time you really see the police is when there are roadblocks or demonstrations,” he says.

Even at the Wangsa Maju pasar malam where Nurin Jazlin was abducted, police surveillance has dwindled.

Neighbourhood watch member Ramli Abdullah, 56, says police now patrol the pasar malam area only once a month.

“But we watch it every week and we also patrol the area every week. The good thing is parents are more vigilant and many do not allow their children to roam alone at the pasar malam,” he says.

Jazimin naturally is very frustrated with the lack of progress in his daughter's case.

“To a certain extent, I can understand why the police have not caught my daughter's murderer but there are times when I get very frustrated and lose confidence in the police investigation,” he says.

Force needs help

The crux of the problem is that the police are overworked and not motivated, says a former top cop who declines to be named.

Retired for a few years now, he shares that morale in the police force has declined steadily over the years.

“Many don't carry out proper investigations because they are overworked due to the personnel shortage in the force. Sometimes they get as many as 11 cases in one go,” he says.

The retired cop adds that police training in the country needs to be improved.

“One missing ingredient is people skills, which is important when we are dealing with victims and their families. For example, you need to update the victim's family of the progress from time to time,” he says.

Many police officers also do not have the skills to deal with witnesses, especially child witnesses, he says, and this can hamper the investigation.

On investigative skills, he shares that the police are trained in various techniques; the problem is their attitude in the investigation process.

“As a result they are not vigilant when they are sent to the crime scene and will miss on clues and evidence,” he says, adding that there is also a shortage of recruits who can think critically.

However, in cases of missing children, he says, sometimes the police cannot be blamed as the chances of solving the cases are lower because usually no evidence is left behind at the crime scene. Police thus have to rely on leads from witnesses and most of the time, uncooperative members of the public hamper their investigations, he adds.

As for sexual assault and murder cases like the Nurin Jazlin case, he says it proves how vital the DNA databank is if the police are to solve them.

“Police found the DNA of Nurin’s perpetrator but because we don't have a DNA databank, there is no way for us to find a match. Unless the police get new leads or suspects, it will be difficult to solve the case,” he says.

Protect And Save The Children Association director Madeleine Yong believes that the police are not to be solely blamed for the unsolved cases of crime against children, especially missing children.

“There isn't one person at fault; everyone is responsible. All those working within the system need to understand their role, and how it connects to the wider process. There needs to be better collaboration between the different agencies,” she says.

Yong cites the Nurin alert system as an example of a good inter-agency collaboration.

“The Nurin alert is a whole systemic effort. It's not just about putting up posters and sending out flyers. It was about training people on the issue and galvanising a whole network of agencies from the police, the judiciary, social welfare people to the Interpol,” she says.

Prevention is more effective, and for that the community needs to play a role too, she adds. Shahida Musa, executive secretary of the Malaysian Association for the Protection of Children (MAPC), concurs, adding that the crux of the issue is parents’ attitude towards the safety of their children.

“You see this area (where the MAPC office is located), we are supposed to have the Kampung Baru molester on the loose. Every day I look out the window and can see young children walking on their own. You tell me whose fault is it?”

Shahida accepts that there are various factors involved, particularly urban poverty, but parental negligence cannot be disregarded, she opines.

She is right, as a survey by this reporter around the so-called “hot areas” such as Kampung Baru and Taman Medan shows that parents are still allowing their young children to roam around their neighbourhood without supervision.

Many agree that it is time for stakeholders to address the weaknesses or failures of the system for the sake of the children.

Shahida opines that most government agencies dealing with children are in dire need of trained personnel.

“Take the Welfare Department, for example. The ratio of their staff is disproportionate to the number of people in their area and they will be responsible for everything from missing children and child abuse cases to fire, flood and other natural disasters,” she says.

”The more honest we are and the more we consolidate our resources and energy, the better we are able to protect our children,” Yong says.

- Sunday Star

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

The Autopsy Pictures’ Case : A Chronology

October 9th, 2007

· Autopsy pictures of Nurin Jazlin Jazimin were discovered to have been circulated through the internet and posted on several websites.
· Jazimin and his brothers lodged a Police Report at the Dang Wangi Police District Headquarters


The full story :

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- As news broke out Tuesday that autopsy pictures of murdered eight-year-old girl Nurin Jazlin Jazimin were posted on the Internet, police warned that stern action would be taken against anyone distributing such pictures.

Selangor Chief Police Officer Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, who was not amused by this latest twist in the bizarre murder, told Bernama: " I've seen the pictures posted via emails and have lodged a report.

"Investigations are underway under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and I warn those distributing such photographs to stop doing it or risk being prosecuted under the OSA or in possession of pornographic materials," he said.

" I'm directing this warning particularly to my own men (police) as they were the ones who had direct access to these photographs and those who are now in possession of such photographs," Khalid said.

Nurin was reported missing on August 20 after she had gone alone to a night market near her home in Wangsa Maju here.

On September 17, her nude body was found stuffed into a sports bag that was left in front of a shoplot in Petaling Jaya. A post-mortem revealed that she was sexually assaulted, with a brinjal and cucumber inserted into her private parts.

Police picked up five people, including a woman, in connection with the murder 10 days after the discovery of the body but only the woman is still under remand.

The four men were released four days later as DNA tests carried out on them did not match the foreign material found on Nurin's body.

Describing the distribution of the photographs as a despicable act, Khalid said others might also be in possession of such material.

Asked how many photographs could have been distributed on-line, he said: "There were many, more or less the whole set of photographs."

--BERNAMA


October 23rd , 2007
· The then Bukit Aman CID Chief stated that the case on the distribution of autopsy pictures may be completed within the next 2 weeks


The full story :

KUALA LUMPUR 23 Okt. – Polis yakin dapat menyelesaikan kes penyebaran gambar bedah siasat ke atas mayat kanak-kanak malang, Nurin Jazlin Jazmin, 8, dalam tempoh dua minggu lagi.

Pengarah Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Bukit Aman, Datuk Christoper Wan Soo Kee berkata, polis telah meminta bantuan Pusat Keselamatan Siber Kebangsaan (CyberSecurity), Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (MCMC) dan makmal forensik bagi membantu mengesan pihak yang menyebarkan gambar tersebut.

‘‘Polis sudah merekodkan keterangan beberapa pegawai polis berhubung isu penyebaran gambar bedah siasat ke atas mayat kanak-kanak malang.

‘‘Siasatan sedang dijalankan dan polis yakin akan dapat mencari orang yang menyebarkan gambar itu dalam tempoh terdekat,’’ katanya pada sidang akhbar di Ibu Pejabat Polis Bukit Aman di sini hari ini.

Gambar bedah siasat Nurin Jazlin, 8, dalam keadaan menyayat hati itu telah disebarkan oleh individu yang tidak bertanggungjawab melalui Internet dan khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) baru-baru ini.

Christoper memberitahu, beliau meminta orang ramai yang menerima gambar tersebut supaya membuangnya dan tidak menghantar kepada individu lain.

“Buanglah dan jangan sebarkan gambar tersebut bagi menghormati keluarga mangsa,” ujarnya.

Pada 9 Oktober lalu, Jazimin Abdul Jalil membuat laporan polis berhubung tindakan pihak tidak bertanggung jawab yang menyebarkan gambar proses bedah siasat mayat anaknya, Nurin Jazlin, 8, menerusi Internet dan SMS.

Jazimin membuat laporan itu di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Dang Wangi kira-kira pada pukul 9.40 malam dengan ditemani oleh sanak saudaranya.

- Utusan Malaysia


November 3rd, 2007
· The identity of the individual responsible for distributing the autopsy pictures of murdered Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, eight, has been identified and will be charged in court soon. - Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan

The full story :


KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- The identity of the individual responsible for distributing the autopsy pictures of murdered Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, eight, has been identified and will be charged in court soon.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan who disclosed this Friday night, said the investigation had been completed.

"We have identified the person and he will be charged soon. We will inform the media when we are ready to charge him," he told reporters after a police Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at the Police Training Centre here.

He said the police could not provide more details on the individual as investigations into Nurin's murder case were still ongoing.

The autopsy pictures of Nurin, a Year Two pupil of Sekolah Kebangsaan Desa Setapak who went missing in August and whose dead body was found stuffed in a sports bag in the PJS area on Sept 20, were widely distributed through the Internet last month.


AND NOW AUGUST 6TH, 2008, ALMOST TEN MONTHS SINCE THE POLICE REPORT WAS LODGED :

NO NEWS ON THE IDENTIFIED CULPRIT!
NO NEWS ON ANY CHARGES TO ANYONE!
SO WHAT’S GOING ON?



Jasni AJ

Sunday, August 3, 2008

CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN: Please ensure justice is done


By : D. PARAMALINGAM, Seri Kembangan, Selangor

I WOULD like to know what has happened to two unsolved cases involving two little girls -- Nurin Jazlin Jazimin and Sharlinie Mohd Nashar.

I can't help thinking that the preoccupation of the police with other issues recently has forced them to relegate these cases to the back burner.

Come Sept 17, it would be one year to the day since Nurin was kidnapped and murdered. The police have yet to find the person responsible for this heinous crime.

And it has been seven months since Sharlinie went missing. Have the police found her? The answers to these two questions is a big "no".

In fact, the police, quite understandably, probably decided to concentrate more on law-and-order problems associated with the March 8 general election than with finding the offenders or trying to solve these two cases.

The elections have come and gone. Nurin's murderer still remains at large. Sharlinie remains missing.

Now, the whole nation has been caught up with the mudslinging and power play between politicians, and Nurin and Sharlinie seem to have been forgotten.

As a father of two young children, I feel for the parents of these two young girls. I also constantly fear for the safety of my children.

Much as I understand the enormous strain under which our law-enforcement officers are working, I appeal to them to ensure that justice is done to Nurin and Sharlinie and those who care for them.

- New Straits Times