Sarawakian duo get death sentence for murdering Chinese worker

SINGAPORE: Two Sarawakian men who bashed to death a Chinese national while robbing him, were convicted of murder and sentenced to the mandatory death penalty.

Jabing Kho had struck Cao Ruyin, a construction worker, on the head with a tree branch with such force that his accomplice, Galing Kujat, saw their 40-year-old victim’s head crack open. An autopsy found that Cao suffered 14 fractures to his skull.

Justice Kan Ting Chiu, in convicting the two 26-year-olds, found that the duo had a common intention to commit robbery, and while carrying out that crime, Jabing intentionally inflicted head injuries on Cao, which were sufficient to cause death.

On the night of Feb 17, 2008, Cao and another Chinese worker, Wu Jun, were walking along Geylang Drive when they were set upon by Galing and Jabing. Cao, who was robbed of his mobile phone, died from serious injuries to the brain six days later, while Wu escaped with minor injuries.

During the murder trial last year, Wu said he felt a blow to the back of his head and ran away from his assailant. He then called police and retraced his steps to find Cao lying unconscious on the grass with blood on his face.

In court, Galing said he saw Jabing pick up something from the ground to hit one of the Chinese men, while he used his belt to hit Wu.

When he failed to catch up with the fleeing Wu, he went back to hit Cao on the chest and took his phone, which was later sold for $300 (RM702).

Jabing admitted that he had trailed the two Chinese men to rob them but said he had not intended to kill Cao. — Singapore Straits Times / ANN