BATU PAHAT: Four men were charged in the Magistrate’s Court here with murdering a businessman before allegedly dumping his body in a river earlier this month.
S. Yogesvaran, 40, Lim Yong Ming, 26, N. Achutan, 32, and How Han Wei, 33, nodded in understanding after the charge was read out before Magistrate Mustaqim Sukarno here yesterday.
No plea was recorded, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
According to the charge sheets, the four men were jointly charged with murdering Low Kai Xian, 39, between 2.35pm on July 29 and 12.30pm on Aug 3.
The offence was allegedly committed in front of an eatery along Jalan Emas Putih 2, Taman Sri Skudai, Johor Baru, and at Sungai Tanjung Sembrong here.
The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment of up to 40 years and whipping of not less than 12 strokes upon conviction if the death penalty is not imposed.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Shahzleen Ibrahim appeared for the prosecution.
Yogesvaran, Lim and How were represented by lawyer SJ Sean Dudley, while Achutan was represented by Datin Freda Sabapathy.
Lawyers Chuah Shyue Chien and Kenji Soh Xin Da also attended the proceedings as watching briefs for the victim’s family.
The court fixed Oct 14 for mention to obtain the post-mortem, DNA, CCTV and mobile phone forensic reports.
Earlier, police arrested five suspects following the discovery of the body of a 39-year-old man floating in Sungai Tanjung Sembrong near Parit Raja here earlier this month.
The body was found wrapped in a net, with initial investigations indicating that the victim had allegedly been strangled with a rope.
Police said the suspects then transported the victim in a vehicle before binding his hands with adhesive tape and wrapping his body in a net.
The victim was reported missing by his wife on July 29, while family members later found his vehicle in Johor Baru.
Police checks found that two of the suspects had previous records involving criminal and drug-related offences.
Investigators believe the murder was motivated by a debt.
