GEORGE TOWN – After spending four-and-a-half years fighting for an inquest into Annapuranee Jenkins’ death, her son Greg Jenkins is appalled over the proceedings’ apparent lack of transparency and accusations that his mother was involved in drugs.
He told South Australian media outlet The Advertiser that the family was overcome by emotions during the inquest over the week, especially when allegations of drug trafficking activities were put forth by the Malaysian police.
“It makes me absolutely furious and absolutely disgusted. I was so angry in court I broke into tears. It’s got the potential to tarnish mum’s image and our family’s character. It was the first we heard of it and everyone in the courtroom, including local media who have followed the case closely, were absolutely flabbergasted.
“This same officer once told a colleague that I give him a headache, that this case gives him a headache, and he wants to retire soon,” he was quoted as saying.
However, he said he was glad some questions were asked during the inquest before coroner Norsalha Hamzah as the family have been fighting for justice for Annapuranee.
He then told The Vibes that he will be bringing his mother’s remains back to Australia for a thorough DNA testing.
“I asked for the DNA testing to be done here, but the police said that it is not something they can do in Malaysia.
“Therefore, I have requested for the remains to be brought home (Australia) to get more information, possibly the cause of death through a DNA test.”
He also said the police investigation had disappointed him from the onset and that the family only had a breakthrough discovery of Annapuranee’s remains in 2020, after putting up a RM20,000 reward and conducting their own private search, spanning 18,000km in West Malaysia.
As the inquest dragged on, he grew disappointed as many questions by prosecutor Datuk Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim to the initial investigating officer Sergeant Zali Hanapi, 61, were met with “I don’t remember”.
In the end, Khairul requested that the police do more by recollecting documents and evidence before the inquest could resume. The inquest has been postponed from June 7 to June 10.
The inquest last week saw a witness list that included hotel staff, the Uber driver believed to be the last known person to see her alive, the caregiver of his grandmother, and Zali, who handled the case in 2017.
The family’s legal team intends to ask the coroner to hold a sitting at the construction site where Annapuranee’s remains were found. This is to point out that she could not have walked 2km in the jungle after being dropped off by the Uber driver in Jalan Scotland here.
Greg will be returning to Australia, where he will discuss with his sister Jennifer Bowen on what had transpired in the inquest.
When he returns for the June inquest proceedings, he is expecting to bring a team that consists of an Australian parliamentarian and possibly the Australian media.
Parit Buntar-born Annapuranee was in Penang on a short holiday with her husband Frank in December 2017 when she went missing.
She left a hotel here on December 13 for an appointment with her dentist before getting into an Uber to visit her mother at an aged care home at Batu Lanchang. She allegedly requested that her Uber driver drop her off midway and was never seen alive again.
Her remains were found at a construction site in Batu Gantong here in June 2020, about 3km from where she alighted from the Uber. – The Vibes, April 3, 2022
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