KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 9): No prosecution will be made with regards to the viral sex video scandal allegedly implicating Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, as identification could not be conclusively made based on facial recognition analysis, said Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas today.
In a statement, Thomas said the videos were sent for authentication and face recognition analysis, both locally and abroad.
"Cyber Security Malaysia concluded that whilst the videos were authentic, facial recognition could not be achieved due to poor resolution of the video recordings, upon which such analysis were performed," he said.
Following the inconclusive findings by Cyber Security Malaysia, Thomas said the videos were then sent to be independently analysed by forensic experts in the United States of America.
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) received the result of the second analysis in December 2019.
"This independent report confirmed Cyber Security’s findings, amongst others, that 'the inability to identify individuals in the viral videos is primarily due to the low resolution and quality of the viral 3 videos and the relatively few number of video frames in which the suspect is clearly visible'," Thomas said.
"Separately, PDRM also received an unsolicited analysis report on the videos from a private individual. This report also confirmed the findings in the other two reports mentioned above that identification could not be conclusively made, based on facial recognition analysis," he added.
As such, Thomas said deputy public prosecutors had unanimously recommended to him that no charges be proffered in connection with the videos.
"I have accepted their recommendation and have decided not to prosecute any person. Consistent with our normal practice, investigations may be reopened if and when new evidence becomes available," he said.
The sex videos, which went viral on social media in May, have been under the investigation of the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) and PDRM since June 13, 2019. The investigation was conducted under Sections 377B and 377D of the Penal Code, following several police reports lodged by different individuals on the sex videos.
Section 377B refers to the punishment for committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature, while Section 377D refers to outrages on decency.
"Many witnesses were interviewed by PDRM to ascertain the facts connected to the video and there had been arrest and remand of some of these witnesses in connection with the investigation," Thomas explained.
Following the video’s circulation, a former government aide in the Ministry of Primary Industries and former PKR Santubong youth chief Haziq Aziz had stepped forward, confessing to be one of the two men in the video and claiming his partner was Mohamed Azmin.
Mohamed Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president, has however consistently denied his involvement in the video, saying it was an attempt to hinder his political career.