JOHOR BARU: A 55-year-old salesman has walked out of the Sessions Court here a free man after he was acquitted of murdering a man that he met via social media.
Chin Tze Kiong was accused of intentionally causing the death of Hoong Chow Keong at a hotel in Taman Mount Austin here at around 6.45am on Dec 31, 2017.
The deceased was 31 years old at the time of the incident while Chin was 50.
It was learned that the accused and the deceased did not know one another until they met on social media and subsequently checked into the hotel.
Under the influence of drugs, the deceased was said to have become aggressive, so the accused tried to overpower the deceased.
Chin, who was arrested on Jan 1, 2018, was then charged under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code for causing Hoong’s death by negligence.
A total of 13 witnesses were called throughout the trial, which ended with Sessions judge Wan Mohd Norhisham Wan’s decision to acquit Chin on Sunday (Jan 7).
Outside the courtroom, Chin’s defence counsel Datin Freda Sabapathy said he was freed without his defence being called because the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case.
"The court held that the accused had no intention to kill.
"The court also instructed for the bail of RM20,000 to be returned to the accused, who is now a free man," she added.
The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Nur Farah Wahida Shahudin.
