Suspect who escaped from lock-up seven years ago charged with murder

BANTING: The Sijangkang murder case suspect who escaped from a police lock-up seven years ago was charged at the Telok Datok magistrate’s court with the murder of an 18-year-old girl.

Kher Tian Hock, 37, appeared before registrar Rozaidi Yaacob yesterday. However, no plea was recorded.

The unemployed man from Sungai Jarum was accused of murdering See Sheau Fang in a house at Jalan Wira 24, Taman Perwira Sijangkang in Telok Panglima Garang between 9.30am and 5.30pm on Feb 28, 2004.

He faces the mandatory death sentence, if convicted, under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Kher, who was unrepresented, appeared dishevelled in an orange lock-up uniform when he was brought to court.

He was also slapped with another charge of escaping from police custody at the Tanjung Sepat lock-up between 6.30am and 7.30am on March 13, 2004.

He was charged under Section 224 of the Penal Code and faces a maximum two years’ jail if convicted.

Prosecuting officer C/Insp Ridhuan Abdullah did not offer bail.

The case is fixed for mention on Nov 8.

It was reported that Kher fled the country after escaping from the lock-up by climbing through the ceiling of a toilet.

He was one of five suspects involved in the murder of See, whose body was buried in front of a house.

The body was wrapped in a blanket and stashed into a black garbage bag.

The fugitive returned to the country using a fake identity and tried to pass off as an illegal immigrant. He was arrested in Masai, Johor on Oct 5 after he sped off in a friend’s car.

He had earlier told his friend, a 69-year-old hotel managing director, that he wanted to borrow her Honda Crossroads to send a friend to a clinic and would return the vehicle in an hour. But when he did not keep his promise, the friend lodged a police report.