November 20, 2009 15:28 PM

Top Surgeon's Malaysian Killer Refused Parole

By Neville D'Cruz

MELBOURNE, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- One of two Malaysian men convicted of murdering renowned Sydney heart surgeon Victor Chang must remain behind bars for another year.

Phillip Lim Chew Seng, 50, was due for release earlier this month after serving his minimum sentence of 18 years.

However, the decision was put on hold last month to allow the New South Wales (NSW) state government to make submissions to the State Parole Authority.

A NSW parole board hearing in Sydney, Friday was told it was not in the public interest for Lim to be released, the Australian Associated Press reports.

Judge Terry Christie cited the fact that Lim would almost certainly be deported to Malaysia, upon his release.

"The (parole) authority recognises the need to maintain public confidence in the administration of justice," said the parole decision statement, handed down by the judge.

It said: "The community expectation would not be met if the offender, thus released, would effectively serve the remainder of his sentence without any supervision."

Christie said Lim's parole would next be considered in August or September next year.

Dr Chang was shot dead on a footpath at Mosman in Sydney's northern suburbs on July 4, 1991, in a failed extortion attempt by Lim and Liew Chew Seng alias Ah Sung.

Lim and Liew were given maximum sentences of 24 and 26 years, respectively.

-- BERNAMA

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