ASTRO AWANI
20/08/2024
The accused when he arrived at the Muar Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. - Astro AWANI
MUAR: A man was brought before the Muar Magistrate's Court today on the charge of killing his parents and niece before burning down the house they lived in at Kampung Paya Redan, Pagoh here, two weeks ago.
Accused Azman Mohamed Nor, 48, only bowed and no confession was recorded before Magistrate Suzana Mokhtar.
According to the charge, the accused is alleged to have killed Mohamed Nor Mohamed Yassin, 82, Ara Ab Hamit, 76 and Noradriana Nor Hasyim, 11, between 1 am and 3 am at address No. 33, Jalan Sekolah Kampung Paya Redan, in Muar district on August 9, 2024.
The accused, who is also the eldest son of the victim, was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years with no less than 12 lashes if convicted.
The prosecution conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Arif Marzuki did not propose any bail and applied for a new date within two months while awaiting the forensic report and autopsy since there were three victims.
Magistrate Suzana then allowed the application and set October 24 as the re-mention of the case.
In a separate proceeding before Judge Nariman Badruddin, the accused was also charged and pleaded guilty to causing serious injury to Norazmina Mohd Razi, 14, by using a stick which is a weapon that can cause death if used as a weapon.
For that act, the accused is charged according to Section 326 of the Penal Code which provides for a prison sentence of up to 20 years and must be fined or whipped.
The prosecution conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Danial Munir, however, requested a new date to obtain complete facts and punishment.
Judge Nariman then set September 12 as the expiry date and did not allow any bail.
Earlier, in an incident in the early morning of August 9, an elderly couple and their 11-year-old granddaughter died after their house was lickt by fire.
The elderly couple died at the scene of the incident while the 11 year old died while receiving treatment at the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital (HPSF), Muar.
The incident also caused another of their 14-year-old granddaughters to suffer injuries and is being treated at HPSF.
The police who initially classified the case as sudden death changed the investigation to 302 of the Penal Code for murder after finding that there were criminal elements on the bodies of the three victims.
The accused, who is the eldest son of an elderly couple, ran away during the incident, was arrested in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur five days later.
