Car salesman told to enter defence in rape and murder of UUM grad

PUTRAJAYA: The man accused of the death of Chee Gaik Yap, who was found raped and murdered in Alor Setar eight years ago, will now face a full trial before the High Court there.

The Court of Appeal panel led by Justice Linton Albert unanimously set aside car salesman Shahril Jaafar's acquittal and discharge, and ordered he enter defence.

"We order that he (Shahril) also be placed in remand forthwith," said Justice Linton on Monday.

Chee Gaik Yap's father, Chee Ah Sau told reporters after the case that he was relieved his daughter's case would now be heard in full.

The three-man panel, which included Justices Mohtarudin Baki and Abdul Rahman Sebli set Oct 19 for mention of the case before the Alor Setar High Court.

Gaik Yap's father Chee Ah Sau, who attended the proceedings, told reporters he was relieved that the case would finally be heard in full.

On June 25, the Alor Setar High Court acquitted and discharged Shahril of murdering Chee after finding that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case.

Shahril, 33, had been charged with the murder that took place between 5.30pm on Jan 14, 2006, and 3.05am on Jan 15, 2006, near the Cinta Sayang Club in Taman Ria Jaya, Sungai Petani.

Gaik Yap, a marketing executive and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) graduate, was believed to have been tailed by her assailant while jogging in the neighbourhood of Taman Ria Jaya in Sungai Petani.

She was kidnapped, raped and killed before her body was dumped at the housing estate.