Court day: Mazuan and Muhd Asyraf (in handcuffs) being led away after the charges were read against them. — Bernama
JITRA: A contractor and his nephew have been charged at the Magistrate’s Court here with murdering Felcra retiree Sabari Baharom last month.
Mazuan Hanafi, 38, and Muhd Asyraf Idris, 26, were charged together with causing the death of Sabari, 62, on a bridge in Kampung Empa, Kubang Pasu, at about 5.30am on Sept 4.
The charge was read out before Magistrate Nurul Huda Idris Mazuan. No plea was recorded as murder cases fall under the High Court’s jurisdiction.
The accused were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or a maximum jail term of 40 years with whipping.
The court set Jan 5 next year for remention, Bernama reported.
Sabari, who lived alone in Kampung Mengkuang Tengah in Kuala Pegang, Baling, was reported missing on Sept 4.
His car was found charred in Belantik, Sik, on Sept 20.
Following the arrest of the accused, police confirmed that Sabari was thrown into the Padang Terap river with his hands tied and mouth taped.
The operation to find his body was conducted for three days and concluded on Oct 3.
Sabari’s daughter, Suraiya Izzati, 29, when met at the court complex, expressed hope that her father’s body would be found soon. “Every day, we pray that our father’s body will be found.
“I also saw the suspects for the first time. How could they do this to our father?” she said while holding back tears.
Suraiya Izzati said she would attend and follow the trial until justice was served.
