Kota Kinabalu: The trial of a Pakistani accused of causing the death of a 16-year-old girl in Kota Marudu last year, took a new twist Tuesday with claims that a backdoor deal had been struck with the girl's father to withdraw the case.Counsel Peter Marajin, who is holding a watching brief for Norikoh Saliwa's family revealed this after Norikoh's father testified before Sessions Court Judge Duncan Sikodol regarding a recent police report he lodged at the Kota Marudu police station.
Farmer, Saliwa Madaya, 58, who was not in the prosecution's witness list, was called to testify by the prosecution regarding the police report he lodged on May 23 this year of his intention to withdraw the report pertaining to the death of his daughter.
Saliwa pleaded with the court to release the accused, Amir Nawaty.
When asked why he wanted Amir to be freed and why he lodged the police report eight months after the incident, Saliwa replied that he did not like his daughter's name to keep coming up.
"It hurts to keep on hearing my daughter's name mentioned. I don't like it.
She died a long time already. No matter how many times her name is mentioned (in the trial), she will never come back," said Saliwa, adding that no one had pressured him into lodging the report as it was on his own free will and agreed upon by all family members.
He also said that he could not afford the travel expenses from his village in Kg Bombong 1, Kota Marudu to Kota Kinabalu to attend the trial proceedings, adding that even if he could afford it, he still would not want the case to be tried.
Saliwa added that he did not know that the case of his daughter's death was being tried in court and that he only knew about it when he was brought to court adding that others had told him that his daughter was killed.
He said he wished the court to release Amir on the condition that the family's request for a compensation from Amir and for the repair of Noriko's grave be met by him.
However Marajin, who came for the afternoon's proceedings, told the court that Saliwa was not telling the truth.
He said that Amir's brother, one Salim, had confirmed to him in the presence of two witnesses that Amir's family had gone to see Saliwa and discussed settlement.
