JOHOR BARU: A private clinic doctor has been charged in the Magistrate’s Court here with allegedly murdering his wife and four-year-old son at their home in Bandar Dato’ Onn late last month.
Dr Chia Tong Hong, 34, nodded to indicate that he understood the charges when they were read out before magistrates Atifah Hazimah Wahab and A. Shaarmini yesterday.
No plea was recorded for either offence.
Dr Chia is accused of killing his wife Phun Lai Ling, 37, and their son, Aaden Chia Yee Heng, at their house along Jalan Perjiranan 11/12 between 9.50pm and 10.34pm on Dec 30.
The two charges were framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty, or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years and up to 12 strokes of the cane.
Dr Chia also claimed trial before magistrates Atifah Hazimah and Nabilah Nizam to two additional charges of obstructing police investigations.
Under heavy guard: Chia arriving at the Johor Baru Court Complex accompanied by police security to face a total of four charges, including two for allegedly murdering his wife and son. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
He is accused of disposing of his wife’s fake fingernails and repositioning his son’s body after the killings, allegedly at about 8.10am on Dec 31 at the same residence.
The obstruction charges were made under Section 186 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of two years or a fine of up to RM10,000, or both, and Section 201, which carries a maximum jail term of seven years and a fine.
Bail was denied in all three courts, as the accused faces charges under Section 302.
The case has been set for mention on March 17 for the submission of documents, pending post-mortem, DNA, chemical, forensic and toxicology reports.
On Thursday, Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said police found the bodies at 8.20am on Dec 31, with injuries consistent with criminal acts.
“The woman was found with a slash wound on her neck, while the child had bluish marks on his face believed to be caused by smothering,” he said.
Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene and sent to Hospital Sultan Ismail for a post-mortem, which confirmed that the woman died from asphyxia-related causes and the boy from smothering.
