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Wednesday November 4, 2009

Trader denies killing maid from Indonesia


SHAH ALAM: A night market trader has claimed trial to killing an Indonesian maid.

A. Murugan, 35, is alleged to have committed the offence at his home in Taman Sentosa, Klang, between Oct 18 and 20.

The case was transferred from the Klang magistrate’s court to the Shah Alam High Court last week.

Murugan was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death penalty if convicted.

When the charge was initially read out to him in Tamil yesterday, Murugan nodded his head when asked if he pleaded guilty.

Judicial Commissioner Mohd Yazid Mustaffa then told the court interpreter to explain the consequences if he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Once the charge was explained again to him, Murugan pleaded not guilty.

To a question by Mohd Yazid if he would appoint his own counsel or wanted a court-appointed lawyer, Murugan said he would only know after conferring with his family.

DPP Manoj Kurup asked Mohd Yazid for an early hearing date and the judicial commissioner fixed Jan 18 to 29 for the case to be heard.

Manoj also told Mohd Yazid that the case was a matter of public interest due to the international element involved in it.

Counsels T. Vijayndran and Mohd Farid Ismail held a watching brief for the Indonesian government.

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