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SHAH ALAM: The credibility of a police witness who interrogated murder accused Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar was questioned yesterday.

Counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, who is representing Sirul, challenged ASP Zulkarnain Samsudin's evidence and the manner in which he had obtained Sirul's purported "revelations" about the discovery of the murder victim's jewellery.

He was submitting in a trial-within-a trial that was held to determine if Sirul's alleged "revelations", which led to the discovery of Altantuya Shaariibuu's jewellery and belongings in a black jacket in his apartment, could be adduced as evidence.

Kamarul pointed out discrepancies in Zulkarnain's evidence and claimed the witness had spun a web of lies in which he had become so entangled that he had trouble covering his tracks and contradicted himself in his testimony.

Kamarul submitted that Sirul's "interview" or interrogation on Nov 7, 2006, by Zulkarnain never happened.

Kamarul questioned why Zulkarnain had to interview Sirul when the latter had been interviewed by the Bukit Aman interrogation team just the day before.

"We contend that this was done to make it look as if what was said during the second time was what led to the discovery of the jewellery."

Zulkarnain had recorded what Sirul allegedly revealed in a police report and not in his cautioned statement.

Kamarul contended that Zulkarnain had not recorded the "revelation" in Sirul's cautioned statement as he knew he would need him to sign the statement as to its accuracy, whereas in a police report he did not need his signature.

Sirul, 32, and Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 36, are charged with murdering Altantuya between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am the next day. Submissions continue before High Court judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin today.

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