A police officer testified at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today that there was still a strong smell of petrol on the red carpet which was to be used when the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor ( below ) visited the Universiti Malaya campus in June last year.

NONE ASP Nik Ros Azhan Nik Hamid, who was the fifth prosecution witness in the attempted arson trial involving five Universiti Malaya students, said he also spotted a black line on the carpet.

"I took the carpet and sent it to the investigating officer Najeeb Mohd Isa for further examination," Nik Ros Azhan told the court.

Nik Ros Azhan was answering questions from Deputy Public Prosecutor Aidatul Azura Zainal Abidin.

He was testifying in the trial of five Universiti Malaya (UM) undergraduates charged with attempted arson, vandalism and criminal trespass.

‘No traces of hydrocarbons found'

Another witness from the Malaysian Chemistry Department, Mohd Fauzi Ghazali, told the court that he could not find any traces of hydrocarbons on the 19 items of evidence seized by the police.

The items included a T-shirt, swabs from the red carpet, a wristwatch, a ring, a jacket, a sling bag, a pair of trousers and gloves which were retrieved from the suspects and from the crime scene.

"There were no traces of hydrocarbons on any of these materials," said Mohd Fauzi.

Explaining this further, Mohd Fauzi said hydrocarbons, being an organic compound which can vaporise easily, could have evaporated.

"The rate at which hydrocarbons evaporate depends on the climate and the environment in which the materials are being kept," he added.

Answering a question raised by defence lawyer Mohd Radzlan Jalaluddin about the accuracy of the statement, he said his answer was based on his personal experience, expertise and studies done by experts.

Earlier, justice Rozana Ali Yusoff dismissed an application by the defence team to postpone proceedings due to the notice of alibi filed by Radzlan, who was representing Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin.

She said the reasons put forward were not concrete.

Besides Shazni Munir, the four other UM students charged are Muhammad Aizat Roslan, Muhammad Saufi Jelani, Mohd Izzuddin Hilmi Mohd Zaini and Mohd Syahriuldeen Ahmad Rosli.

They were charged with

a) attempting to commit arson under Section 436 of the Penal Code with the use of fire at the Faculty of Islamic Studies at about 4am on June 24 2009.

b) allegedly committing criminal trespass under Section 447 of the Penal Code at the same place and time; and

c) allegedly pouring petrol and committing vandalism under Section 427 of the Penal Code at the same place and time.

Under Section 436, an accused is liable to face up to 10 years' jail or a fine if convicted; while under Section 447 for criminal trespass, they are liable to six months' jail or a fine of up to RM3,000. Under Section 427 for vandalism, they stand to face a maximum jail term of two years or a fine or both.

Hearing continues tomorrow.