Two men charged with murder of alleged handphone thief
BY CAVINA LIM
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Two men who were part of a group who allegedly bash up a handphone thief to death has been charged with murdering the latter in a Sessions Court here.
Lorry driver S. Poovarasan, 33, and two truck driver Ang Wei Seng, 23, are charged with six others, as members of an illegal assembly, with murdering Ooi Sim Guan, 38, at a field in Taman Sejahtera, Alma, Machang Bubok here at around 3pm on Sept 26.
The offence under Section 302 of the Penal Code, also read together under Section 149 of the Penal Code, carries the mandatory death sentence.
No plea was recorded from both accused.
Bail was also not granted as Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder is a non-bailable offence.
Poovarasan was unrepresented while Ang was represented by counsel Rosli Ismail.
Deputy public prosecutor Lim Saw Sim prosecuted the case.
Sessions judge Musyiri Peet fixed Dec 16 to mention the case.
It was reported that the Ooi had died at the Seberang Jaya Hospital three days after he was attacked on Sept 26.
Prior to the incident, the victim had stopped a lorry at Taman Sejahtera in Alma to hitch a ride and was dropped off a kilometre away later.
An argument soon ensued between the lorry driver (Poovarasan) and Ooi when the driver suspected the latter of stealing his handphone, which was placed at the vehicle’s dashboard.
The lorry driver turned back his vehicle to look for Ooi.
Several passers-by got involved and attacked Ooi during the argument.
