Nurul Asikin Lan murder: E-Hailing driver's trial moves to Kuching High Court
Photo shows the exterior of the Kuching Court Complex. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING (May 26): The Magistrates' Court has ordered that the case involving an e-hailing driver charged with the murder of Nurul Asikin Lan in December last year be transferred to the Kuching High Court.
The accused, Zakwan Mokhtar, 23, indicated he understood the charge when it was read before Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali during the case mention proceedings.
No plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Jean Siow Chung Hwei applied for the case to be transferred to the High Court, as the accused was charged under Section 320 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution informed the court that it had received the DNA and post-mortem reports on the 28-year-old victim, as well as extracted WhatsApp message content relevant to the case.
Zakwan, who was unrepresented, is charged with causing the death of Nurul Asikin, better known as Amoi, whose decomposed body was found in a drain along Jalan Setia Raja, Tabuan, at 9.10 pm on Dec 14, last year.
The accused faces the death penalty or imprisonment for a term of between 30 and 40 years, and if the death penalty is not imposed, may also be liable to a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.
Previously, media reports quoted Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata as saying that the suspect had allegedly confessed to murdering the victim out of desperation for money to attend a football match. Amoi high court lead murder Nurul Asikin Lan transferred Zakwan Mokhtar
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