TENOM: Farah Pardani, wife of Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew, testified that her husband and his staff used a mobile phone number registered in her name.
The 43-year-old witness said two phone numbers were registered under her name, with one being used jointly by Ebit and his staff.
She explained the mobile phone was managed by staff for video production, live streaming, content creation and editing.
Ebit used the same device for messaging, video production and updating finished materials, according to her testimony.
Farah stated Ebit had no other phone numbers besides the one registered under her name.
The number was no longer used after the mobile phone was confiscated in 2021, she told the court.
She acknowledged not informing police about staff phone usage during her initial statement recording.
Farah said she didn’t fully understand the questions put to her by investigating officers at that time.
When asked if she requested clarification for unclear questions, Farah replied “I do not remember.”
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Azizah Mohamad suggested her court testimony differed from her police statement.
Nor Azizah highlighted contradictions between her court account and her September 2021 police recording.
The prosecutor directly asked Farah which version of her testimony was untrue.
Farah explained she didn’t realize she needed to specify staff usage when initially questioned by police.
She clarified that Ebit would hand the phone to staff for video production and content meetings.
The prosecution team included Deputy Public Prosecutors Analia Kamaruddin and Muhammad Hidayat Wahab.
Ebit’s defence was represented by lawyers Datuk Ram Singh, Kamarudin Mohmad Chinki, Timothy Daut and Prabjit Singh Gill.
Ebit faces 11 charges of defaming a woman’s modesty by sending obscene words and pictures via WhatsApp.
The alleged offences occurred between March and June 2021 targeting a woman in her 40s.
He is charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum five-year prison term, fine, or both.
The trial before Magistrate Nur Asyraf Zolhani continues tomorrow. – Bernama
