Rohingya man charged with murder of countryman and injuring victim's wife

NIBONG TEBAL - A Rohingya man was charged at the Jawi Magistrate's Court here today with the murder of his fellow countryman in a residential area last month.

Osman Bawdi Alom, 38, nodded to indicate he understood after the charge was read in Malay before Magistrate Nurul Aina Ahmad. However, no plea was recorded as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

He is accused of murdering Abdul Rahman Shah Mia, 31, at Lorong Belibis 14, Taman Belibis, South Seberang Perai, here on May 31.

The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, as well as not less than 12 strokes of the cane, if the death penalty is not imposed, upon conviction.

The accused also pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing injury to the murder victim's wife, Formin Lal Mia, 26, with a knife at the same location and time.

For that offence, he was charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, or a fine, or caning, or a combination of two punishments, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Airina Syazreen Zainurin appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer G. Sathiash.

Nurul Aina then set Aug 7 as the case mention date for submission of the post-mortem report and denied bail for the accused.

Meanwhile, proceedings on charges against two Rohingya women who were also arrested following the murder have been postponed to June 23 for a Myanmar interpreter to read the charges to Humaira, 18, and Minara, 29.

In the incident at around 3.20 pm, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple stab wounds, while his wife also suffered injuries.

Police subsequently arrested a man and two women to assist with investigations. - BERNAMA