SHAH ALAM – What began as the inspiring story of a university graduate from Sabah who once competed on MasterChef Malaysia ended in a horrifying tragedy.
A former MasterChef Malaysia finalist, Etiqah Siti Noorashikeen Mohd Sulong and her ex-husband Mohammad Ambree Yunos, have been sentenced to 34 years in prison for the horrific torture and murder of their 28-year-old maid, Nur Afiyah Daeng Damin, in December 2021.
The case, described by prosecutors as "a prolonged campaign of cruelty," has sent shockwaves through Malaysia and beyond.
A House of Terror in Penampang
Between Dec 8 and Dec 11, 2021, what should have been a safe workplace for Afiyah turned into her final days of terror.
Employed as a domestic helper in a condominium in Penampang, Sabah, she was systematically abused, tortured and ultimately killed by the very people tasked with providing her shelter and protection.
The Kota Kinabalu High Court, presided by Judge Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng, delivered the sentence on the couple in June after concluding that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
While Ambree, 44, received an additional 12 strokes of the cane, Etiqah, 37, was spared whipping under Section 289 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which exempts women from corporal punishment.
"This Was Not a Murder of Passion, It Was Deliberate Torture"
In court, Deputy Public Prosecutor Dacia Jane Romanus reportedly painted a chilling picture.
“This was not a murder out of anger or provocation. This was a prolonged, cruel and deliberate torture,” she said.
According to Dacia, the abuse was not impulsive, but methodically inflicted over time.
The couple had subjected Afiyah to such extensive physical torment that her body was unrecognisable.
“The condition of the deceased’s body was so severely deteriorated that her husband was only able to identify her by the bangle she wore on her wrist,” she revealed.
The evidence was damning. Videos and images recovered from the couple’s mobile phones documented the torture in gruesome detail, revealing not only the physical abuse but the chilling intent to preserve it.
“The deceased was a young woman who left her home and entered the home of the accused persons to work honestly and earn a living during a global pandemic.
"While others remained at home in search of safety and protection, the deceased experienced the opposite. She endured prolonged suffering in her place of employment, which ultimately became the site of her tragic demise,” Dacia said.
A MasterChef Finalist’s Fall from Grace
Etiqah was just 24 years old when she appeared on MasterChef Malaysia Season 2 in 2012.
The show, a local adaptation of the global cooking competition, brought amateur home cooks into the spotlight, many of whom went on to launch careers in Malaysia’s vibrant culinary scene.
She had been described then as a promising university graduate with a postgraduate degree in geology from Sabah.
Her appearance on the show gave her a platform, but what followed was a far cry from public admiration.
A Conviction Years in the Making
The case was first brought to court on Dec 29, 2021, and the couple claimed trial on Nov 17, 2022.
During the proceedings, Judge Lim stated the prosecution had succeeded in establishing all critical elements under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which relates to murder.
These included:
- That the victim died from injuries.
- That the injuries were inflicted with intent.
- That both accused acted with common intention.
Despite passionate mitigation pleas from their defence lawyers, Datuk Ram Singh (for Ambree) and Datuk Seri Rakhbir Singh (for Etiqah), the court found that the severity and nature of the injuries could not be ignored.
The Demand for the Death Penalty
Although the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 was already in force, the prosecution had still urged the court to impose the death penalty, citing the cruelty involved.
“This case shocked the conscience not only of Sabahans but the nation as a whole. The law must reflect the value we place on human life and in this case, justice demands nothing less than the ultimate sentence,” Dacia reportedly told the court.
However, the judge opted for a custodial sentence of 34 years each, reflecting the current sentencing trends for deaths caused by prolonged abuse, while ordering Ambree to be caned 12 times.
A Public Reckoning
As the case gained national attention, it triggered intense public outrage. Many questioned how a figure once in the public eye, admired for her passion in the kitchen, could be part of such a monstrous act behind closed doors.
The verdict serves as a grim reminder that abuse of domestic workers remains an issue, even among the most seemingly “respectable” employers. It also underscores the urgent need for better protection and oversight for vulnerable workers in Malaysia.
Justice Served But the Scars Remain
While justice has now been delivered in the courtroom, the psychological and social scars left by this case are far from healed.
Afiyah’s tragic end remains a symbol of the invisible violence domestic workers often endure and a call to action for Malaysians to demand better accountability and compassion for all lives, regardless of status or citizenship.