The report was lodged by Jenkins’ husband Francis, following a distress call from his wife a day after she went missing.
Former police sergeant and case investigating officer Zali Hanapi told the coroner’s court he felt that Francis could have lied as police found Jenkins’ mobile phone in her luggage at the hotel.
“I did not record Francis’ statement further as I found him to be dishonest. I was of the opinion that the police report was false,” he told coroner Norsalha Hamzah.
Zali said he had verbally checked with local mobile telco operators over the alleged distress call from 04-3123 2617, adding that one telco told him it was likely a wrong number.
Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim, who is assisting the coroner in the inquest, asked Zali why he did not probe further the disappearance of Jenkins.
Zali said the case appeared to have no criminal element, and based on Jenkins’ diary entry, she did not want to go back to Australia.
“Also, she is an aged person and not a person of status, nor did she have any property or material possessions here,” he said.
He said police had also searched her relatives’ homes and other possible locations.
“There was one time we were told that she’d been sighted at a KFC in Batu Ferringhi, but it was not her. We also reached out to Interpol to check if she had left the country,” he said.
Zali said he had four meetings with relevant people such as Jenkins’ son Greg and officials at the Australian High Commission.
Asked about CCTV footage, Zali said he had obtained one which caught the Uber ride dropping Jenkins off at an ashram. He said the Penang Island City Council cameras were pointed at the Scotland Road junction, which was out of the area of interest.
Norsalha then set June 7 to 10 for resumption of the inquest as Khairul had yesterday applied to vacate tomorrow’s court date because police were now pursuing new leads that had surfaced.
A total of seven witnesses have testified so far. Nearly 10 more are expected to testify in the months to come.
Yazid Mustaqim Roslan is also assisting the coroner while Raveentharan Subramaniam and Asmeeta Rajendran are representing the Jenkins family.