Federal Court upholds conviction of four accused in lecturer's murder

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court here has upheld the convictions of four students who were found guilty of murdering their lecturer at her home in Puchong in 2012.

A five-men panel unanimously dismissed the appeals by Muhammad Safwan Mohammed, 26, Mohamad Zul Shahril Suhaimi, 26, Mohamad Sharafe Matt Noh, 25, and Azizi Aizat Ibrahim, 26, after hearing submissions here Wednesday.

In its decision, the panel found overwhelming testimonies against the accused persons and held that their convictions were safe.

Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif presided over the panel.

Other panel members were Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum, Justices Zaharah Ibrahim, Balia Yusof Wahi and Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin.

The four, who were former students of Cybernetics International College of Technology, were found guilty of killing 23-year-old Zara Eleena Omar Peter, who taught English at the college, at a house in Taman Kinrara, Puchong, between 1.30am and 2.30am on March 9, 2012.

The accused, except for Muhammad Safwan, were also found guilty of killing her father Omar Peter Abdullah, a 56-year-old retired accountant, between 11.30pm on March 8, 2012 and 1.30am the following day.

In 2014, the Shah Alam High Court convicted Mohamad Zul Shahril, Mohamad Sharafe and Azizi Aizat over the double murders.

The High Court decision pinned Mohamad Zul Shahril as the mastermind of the entire incident, stemming from the loss of jewellery belonging to Zara Eleena's mother, Normaliah Mahmood.

The same court acquitted Muhammad Safwan of both charges.

The prosecution appealed against the acquittal and the Court of Appeal ordered Muhammad Safwan to enter his defence for the murder of Zara Eleena. It, however, dismissed the prosecution's appeal in the case of Omar Peter.

In Sept 2015, Muhammad Safwan was found guilty of murdering Zara Eleena.

DPP Nurulhuda Nur'Aini Mohd Nor appeared for the prosecution.

Lawyers Datuk Naran Singh, Nik Mohamed Ikhwan Nik Mahamud, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik and Shamsul Sulaiman represented the accused.