Norikoh Saliwa's parents pain

KOTA KINABALU, January 13, 2013: It was one of their very few trips to the State Capital but for Saliwa Madaya, 57, and his wife Raimas Makanal, 56 off Kampung Bombong 1, Kota Marudu, this time it was no normal visit.

Together with their 26-year-old daughter, Bibianah, they took the more than two hours' journey on Friday to get in see face-to-face with lawyer, Peter Marajin, to follow up on the latest development about the 'mysterious' death of their other daughter, Norikoh.

Anxiety was all over their faces as they listened carefully to Marajin, who would be on a watching brief on their behalf during Norikoh's 'mysterious' death trial soon upon arrival at Damai, Luyang near here, yesterday.

Saliwa said it was quite painful for him and his family as they were in the dark not knowing what is happening after Norikoh was found dead by the road side at Kilometer 2.8, Jalan Kota Marudu-Langkon at about 12.40m on Nov 25 last year.

"I cannot sleep thinking about my daughter and the case ...­ it has been more than two months but I have not heard anything," he sighed.

So much so, the family then sought assistance from one John Charles Mitah Mikat in Kota Marudu in order for them to get here.

"In our village, it has been a tradition and our way of live that even a chicken is found dead the owner would request the village head to investigate it, what more if it involved a human life.

"It really hurts not knowing what to do and what will be the conclusion to my daughter's untimely death. We really hope whoever the culprits responsible for causing her death will be penalised," said Saliwa.

In Dec 18, 2012, a Pakistani trader based in Kota Marudu, Amir Ali Khan Nataway was formally charged for causing Norikoh's death from a moving truck in front of Sessions Court Judge Duncan Sikodol who then fixed the hearing date from Feb 7 to 8, 2013.

Amir Ali from Buner, Pakistan pleaded not guilty to the charge framed under Section 304 (b) of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 10 years or fine or both upon conviction.

On Monday (Jan 14), a pre-trial case management would be held at the Sessions Court, which Saliwa and his family have made it a point to attend.

Saliwa (seated 3rd from right) is being briefed by Marajin (seated 2nd from left) on his daughter's case, in the company of his wife Raimas (seated 2nd from right) and Norikoh's sister, Bibianah (seated on the right), Mikat (seated on the left), SAPP youth Chief Edward Dagul (standing 3rd from left), Wilfred Gaban (standing on the right) and others.