Gardener Charged With Murdering Contract Worker In Kampung Gajah

BATU GAJAH, June 18 (Bernama) -- A gardener was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with the murder of a contract worker in Kampung Gajah last week. 

Mohammad Farizzal Fazly Mohd Zulkifly, 30, nodded after the charge was read out before Magistrate Mohd Harith Mohd Mazlan, who then set July 20 for mention.

No plea was recorded as the case is under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The man is charged with murdering Muhammad Fahmi Abdullah, 29, on the side of Jalan Utama, Jalan Trans Perak in the Perak Tengah district between 4.30 am and 5.49 am on June 10 this year.

The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the death sentence, or imprisonment for 40 years, and if not sentenced to death, shall be punished with whipping of not less than 12 strokes, upon conviction.

The prosecution was conducted by Prosecuting Officer Insp Jagdeep Singh Jaswant Singh, while the accused was unrepresented.

Meanwhile, in a separate proceeding at the Ipoh Sessions Court, Mohammad Farizzal Fazly was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment and three strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to a charge of attempting to rape a 25-year-old woman.

Judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason also ordered him to be placed under police supervision for three years upon completion of the prison sentence and to undergo rehabilitation counselling during his imprisonment.

He was charged with committing the offence in a car in an oil palm plantation in the Seberang Perak area, Kampung Gajah in the Perak Tengah district, at about 5 am last Wednesday (June 10).

The charge was framed under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 511 of the same law.

According to the facts of the case, the accused had met the victim at the location to discuss and persuade her to reconcile.

While inside the car, the accused allegedly threatened the victim with a knife and pressured her to engage in sexual intercourse, but the woman refused.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Arfahanim Azureen Arfanuddin prosecuted, while Mohammad Farizzal Fazly was unrepresented.

-- BERNAMA