SEPANG - Two friends, both 19, were charged in the Magistrate's Court here today in connection with the death of a female student of a private university in Cyberjaya last month.
M. Sri Darvien, who does odd jobs, was charged with murdering Maniishapriet Kaur Akhara, 20, at a condominium in Cyberjaya between 9.11 pm and 11.31 pm on June 23.
The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the death sentence or imprisonment for not less than 30 years or not more than 40 years and not less than 12 strokes of the cane if convicted.
His friend, D. Thineswary, who was also the victim's housemate, was charged with abetting him in the murder at 12.30 pm on the same date and location.
The woman, a first-year student of the Foundations of Literature Programme, was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 302 of the same law.
She also faced the death sentence or imprisonment for not less than 30 years or not more than 40 years, and not less than 12 strokes of the cane if convicted.
However, no plea was recorded from either of them after the charges were read out before Magistrate Khairatul Animah Jelani, as their cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
No bail was granted and the court set Sept 11 for mention of the case and submission of forensic reports, post-mortem reports and chemical reports.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin while lawyers M. Manoharan and Mohamed Baharudeen Mohamed Ariff represented Sri Darvien and Thineswary, respectively.
Maniishapriet Kaur, from Sarawak and a Bachelor of Physiotherapy student, was found dead in her condominium unit in Cyberjaya at 10 am on June 24.
She was reported to be alone as her five housemates had returned home on vacation. - BERNAMA