Digital forensics analysis could not verify exhibits’ relevance to ‘Ops Daulat’

KOTA KINABALU - A forensics analysis could not verify a number of digital exhibits’ relevance to ‘Ops Daulat’, an operation to rid Lahad Datu of intruders, the High Court here heard today.

CyberSecurity Malaysia’s senior digital forensics analyst Jazreena Abdul Jabar said this was based on an analysis on data extracted from the exhibits.

“In paragraph 5.0 on page nine of the Cyber Security Forensics Report, it states that from the forensics analysis conducted on the exhibits, several data and documents had been extracted.

“However, DFD (Digital Forensics Department of CyberSecurity Malaysia) could not verify which findings were relevant to Ops Daulat that showed intention or a plan to infiltrate Sabah,” she said.

Jazreena said this under cross examination by counsel Majnah Abdillah in the trial of 30 individuals linked to the intrusion by Sulu gunmen at Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu in February 2013.

The witness also agreed with counsel that the findings in that report fulfilled the request by the police to extract all data relevant to the operation.

Earlier during examination-in-chief, Jazreena said she received the exhibits from ASP Muhammad Zulkifly Mohd Isa and ASP Zairolnizal Ishak.

Upon receiving the exhibits, she made markings on each one and handed them to Digital Forensics Operation Manager Fauzi Mohd Darus.

“After I made the markings, I resealed the exhibits and handed the exhibits, received from ASP Muhammad Zulkifly to Encik Fauzi on March 29, 2013, and the exhibits received from ASP Zairolnizal to Encik Fauzi on April 14, 2013.”

She answered, “No”, when asked by deputy public prosecutor Jamil Aripin whether Muhammad Zulkifly and Zairolnizal had revealed to her about the source of the digital exhibits.

In the dock are 27 Filipinos and three local residents who are facing one to multiple charges of being members of a terrorist group and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

They are also alleged to have recruited members for a terrorist group or wilfully harboured individuals they knew to be members of a terrorist group.

The offences were allegedly committed between Feb 12 and April 10, 2013.  The hearing before Justice Stephen Chung at the Sabah Prisons Department continues tomorrow. — Bernama