JOHOR BARU: The Federal Court has upheld the death sentence on a former land broker who murdered his six-year-old stepson 13 years ago.
A three-member panel led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat unanimously decided this here on Tuesday (July 16) after rejecting the application by Azman Abd Rahman, 49, for a review to commute his death sentence.
Also presiding were Federal Court Judges Datuk Nordin Hassan and Datuk Hanipah Farikullah.
The prosecution was led by the head of the Trials and Appeals Division of the Attorney General's Chambers, Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, while the defendant was represented by S. Vijay Rathnam.
Vijay requested the court's leniency as his client had chronic health conditions, including hepatitis B and high blood pressure.
However, Mohd Dusuki argued for the sentence to be upheld based on the autopsy report, which revealed over 72 injuries to the child's body.
He said there was bleeding in several parts of the victim's body, particularly in the muscles, lungs, head and abdomen, caused by strong blows with a blunt object.
The doctors determined that "severe muscle contusion and lung contusion due to blunt trauma" was the cause of death, he noted.
According to the charges, Azman was accused of murdering Muhammad Firdaus Mohd Dan, six, in an oil palm plantation in Kampung Solok Pinang, Gadek, Alor Gajah, between 10.30am and 2.15pm on Oct 10, 2011.
He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
Based on the facts of the case, on the day of the incident, Azman took the victim to the plantation at Kampung Pinang in Gadek, Alor Gajah, at 10.30am.
The victim defecated in his trousers during the journey to the plantation, which angered the accused.
Upon arriving at the location, the accused reportedly beat the victim with a tree branch and kicked him before taking him to Hospital Alor Gajah, where he was pronounced dead.
On June 5, 2015, the Ayer Keroh High Court in Melaka sentenced Azman, from Lubok Cina in Linggi, Alor Gajah, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of killing his stepson.
Azman sought to have his death sentence overturned at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya on Sept 7, 2016, but failed.
On Oct 5, 2017, he was also unsuccessful in his first appeal to the Federal Court.
His latest appeal came after the abolition of the mandatory death penalty last year.
