SUNGAI PETANI: Four men, including two brothers, have been charged in the Magistrate’s Court here with murdering a man in an oil palm plantation last month.
Mohamad Bakri Mahidin, 37, his brother Muhamadariff Mahidin, 26, Mohamad Iekram Mohd Zaki, 29, and Mohd Firdaus Che Mustafa, 36, nodded after the charge was read out before Magistrate Noor Farah Hazwani Osman on Monday (Sept 7).
No plea was recorded as the offence falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
The accused – two of whom are general labourers, the third a security guard and the fourth a car washer – were jointly charged with murdering Mohd Badaruddin Md Nayan, 30, at an oil palm plantation in Kampung Sungai Division here between 1.30pm and 3pm on Aug 23.
The charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code (for murder), read together with Section 34 (joint criminal liability), carries the death penalty, or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years and at least 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
Lawyer Durratul ‘Ain Mahmud Morshidi acted as an amicus curiae (friend of the court) to convey the medical needs of two of the accused.
According to Durratul ‘Ain, Iekram holds a Person with Disabilities (OKU) card for a physical disability and suffers from an injury to his right leg sustained in an accident, while Bakri has asthma.
She said both accused required medical attention to cope with the trial, which is expected to be lengthy.
Magistrate Noor Farah Hazwani then said that the medical needs of both accused would be managed by the prison authorities.
The court denied bail for all the accused and set Nov 15 for mention. – Bernama
