Two charged with killing man
TANGKAK: A 19-year-old man, believed to be mentally unstable, and a 23-year-old woman were charged at the magistrate’s court here with the murder of a man in Jalan Kesang two weeks ago.
Muhammad Firdaus Hamzah and Norshahila Ismail were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code with the murder of excavator operator Omar Miskam, 49.
They were alleged to have committed the offence between 11.59pm on Oct 31 and 4.30am on Nov 1 in front of a house at Jalan Kesang Laut, Batu 2 in Tanjung Gading, Sungai Mati, here.
The charge, which carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction, was read in front of magistrate Maslinda Selamat. No plea was recorded.
Firdaus was represented by R.K. Balakrishnan, while Norshahila was unrepresented. Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Shukri Hussain prosecuted.
Firdaus looked confused after the charge was read to him.
Balakrishnan said his client did not understand the charge and requested that Firdaus undergo a mental health evaluation at Permai Hospital in Tampoi, Johor Baru, with agreement from the prosecution.
Maslinda allowed the request and fixed Dec 22 for mention.
She also ordered Firdaus’s medical report to be submitted, and for
and (inset, in purple) being led into the magistrate’s court in Tangkak yesterday. Pix by Syarafiq Abd Samad
Norshahila to appoint a lawyer by that date.
The case shocked many as initial investigations revealed that Omar might have been hacked to death before his body was chopped into
more than 10 pieces.
Police discovered his dismembered remains wrapped in plastic bags after they were allegedly placed in a drain in Kampung Kesang Laut here.