Appeal by four in murder of cosmetics millionaire Sosilawati Lawiya dismissed

File pic: N. Pathmanabhan (white shirt) and the other three accused in the Sosilawati Lawiya's murder trial leaving the Shah Alam court under heavy police escort, Friday, July 8, 2011 .

PUTRAJAYA: The Appeals Court here upheld the death sentence on four men for the murder of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and her three aides, five years ago.

The four are former lawyer, N. Pathmanabhan, 45, and farmhands T. Thilaiyalagan, 23, R. Matan, 24 and R. Kathavarayan, 35.

The three-member panel chaired by Justice Datuk Aziah Ali in an unanimous decision ruled that their convictions were safe.

Also in the panel were Justice Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat who read out the judgement, and Justice Datuk Seri Zakaria Sam.

On May 25, 2013, the four were found guilty by the High Court, of killing Sosilawati, 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, and Sosilawati's driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44.

They committed the murder at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat, in Banting between 8.30 pm and 9.45 pm on Aug 30, 2010.

Sosilawati and her three aides were reported missing after they allegedly went to Banting for a land deal. Their disappearance made headlines nationwide.

The four men were arrested and charged in court in 2011.