KUANTAN: The suspect in the death of 37-year-old food trader Nurshamira Zainal has been charged with murder at the Magistrate’s Court here.
The accused is 53-year-old Zalzul Kamar Abdul Ghani from Kuala Terengganu, and he acknowledged understanding the charge presented by the prosecution before Magistrate Tengku Eliana Tuan Kamaruzaman.
The case is prosecuted by Pahang State Prosecution Director Shahrizat Ismail and Deputy Public Prosecutor B Deevagaran Naidu.
No plea was recorded during the proceedings.
The charge sheet states that the accused is charged with murder, causing the death of Nurshamira between 7.30pm and 8.30pm on Feb 12.
The incident occurred at the Kuantan River Jetty area, Jalan Padang Lalang.
If convicted, the accused faces the death penalty or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years, as well as at least 12 strokes of the cane.
The court set April 10 as the date for the case's next mention.
Zalzul Kamar was brought to the Kuantan Magistrate's Court grounds at 9.20am to face the charges.
He arrived in a police vehicle, handcuffed, wearing a T-shirt and sarong.
Earlier, media reported that the suspect was arrested at 5.30am in a house in the Wakaf Tembesu residential area, Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu, on February 15.
He was remanded for seven days for further investigation until February 21 before the remand was extended.
Nurshamira's body was found on the banks of the Kuantan River, near the Tanjung Lumpur Bridge, on February 13, with injuries suspected to be from murder.
The shocking incident drew attention from various parties, including the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al Mustafa Billah Shah, who described the act as cruel and inhumane.
