Police have reminded media organisations not to go overboard but to exercise restraint and caution when reporting on the case of cosmetics tycoon Sosilawati Lawiya and three others.

NONE They should not jeopardise justice because investigations were still ongoing, said Bukit Aman CID director Mohd Bakri Zinin in a statement today.

In expressing serious concern on some of the reports, particularly those appearing in mainstream newspapers, he regretted that some of the published 'revelations', particularly details on how the victims met with their deaths, were just pure speculation.

Media practitioners, he said, should be mindful of their responsibilities.

"There should be no trial by the media against those persons arrested. Quoting police sources as the origin of their stories was also not helpful," he said.

Reporters and editors warned

Bakri warned that reporters and editors may be called to account for, or justify their stories in the court of law later.

"Equally, they should not be printing something, which may later be adduced as evidence, should there be a trial against a person or persons responsible for the death of Sosilawati and the three others.

police search Sosilawati Lawiya afp 1 "I recognise this is a case of public interest. Datuk Sosilawati is a successful businesswoman. The public is entitled to know what happened to them and what had been done by the police to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Mohd Bakri also urged the public, media and families of the victims to give space and time to the police to fully investigate the case.

"The time is limited and we would like to do justice to the victims and be fair to those arrested," he added.

Eight suspects, aged between 19 and 45, including two women, had been detained to facilitate in the investigations as to how the victims had perished and the motive behind the act.

- Bernama