PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has upheld the death sentence on a man who murdered his nine-year-old daughter in 2018.
A three-member bench consisting of Justices Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Datuk Azman Abdullah and Datuk Azmi Ariffin dismissed an appeal by Mohammad Abdullah Mohamed against his conviction and sentence handed down by the High Court.
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DPP Datin Asmah Musa, appearing for the prosecution, and Abdullah’s lawyer Afifuddin Ahmad Hafifi, confirmed the court’s decision when met on Thursday (June 26).
Asmah said Justice Azmi, who delivered the court’s decision, said that while the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 provides discretionary sentencing of between 30 and 40 years' jail, the court found the death sentence is appropriate after considering the aggravated and mitigating factors.
The 43-year-old former soldier was appealing against his conviction and death sentence imposed by the High Court in August 2023 for the murder of Nur Aina Nabihah Mohammad Abdullah at a house in Jalan Vista Jaya 5, Taman Vista Jaya, Lukut, Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan, between 8.30pm and 11.30pm on Jan 31, 2018.
According to the facts of the case, Abdullah had instructed Nur Aina Nabihah and her other siblings to do 500 push-ups and sit-ups as punishment for failing to perform prayers.
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When Nur Aina Nabihah became too weak to continue, he stepped on her stomach with his foot. When the girl could not get up, he got angry and stepped on her stomach again. He also pushed her with his foot and kicked her forcefully.
Abdullah has one more avenue of appeal, the Federal Court. – Bernama
