KLIA shooting case: Hafizul applies for plea bargaining
SEPANG: Travel agency manager Hafizul Hawari has applied for plea bargaining at the Sessions Court here today on charges of attempting to murder his ex-wife and injuring her bodyguard at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in April last year.
Deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin informed the court of this matter during the first day of the trial of Hafizul's case before Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman.
'Today was supposed to be set for trial, but the prosecution was informed by the accused's lawyer to enter a plea bargain. The prosecution will have to examine this first,' she said before requesting that the court set another date for the decision on the accused's plea bargain. Ahmad Fuad then set the date for July 17.
Plea bargaining is a negotiation for a guilty plea held between the prosecution and the defence as an incentive for the accused person to choose to plead guilty, without having to go through the trial process.
On April 25 last year, Hafizul, 39, pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempting to murder his wife, Farah Md Isa, 39, at the International Arrivals Hall, Terminal 1 of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 1.09 am on April 14, 2024.
The charge, framed under Section 307 of the Penal Code, provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine, and if causing injury, he shall be imprisoned for up to 20 years, upon conviction.
He also pleaded not guilty to another charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt to his wife's bodyguard, Mohd Nur Hadith Zaini, 39, by using a pistol capable of causing death at the same location, date and time.
For that, Hafizul was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine or whipping, if convicted.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Midnight riot near Muar surau over gambling loss leaves four injured, four arrested
MUAR: A violent riot believed to have stemmed from a gambling dispute erupted in the early hours this morning near a surau in Taman Sakeh, leaving four men hospitalised and four others in custody. The melee, involving an estimated 20 individuals, broke out around 12.50am and quickly escalated into a weapon-wielding clash that shocked residents along Jalan Sakeh. Initial investigations revealed the fight was triggered by dissatisfaction over a bet gone sour. District police chief Assistant Commissioner Raiz Mukhlis Aziz Azman said the suspects turned aggressive after losing a wager during an illegal gambling session, which led to a brutal confrontation. "Four individuals have been arrested, while four others sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. The remaining suspects are still at large," he said in a statement today. Police have classified the case under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting with weapons, along with Sections 326 and 307 for causing grievous hurt and attempted murder, respectively. Raiz said efforts to trace and apprehend the remaining suspects are ongoing and urged anyone with information to contact investigation officer Inspector Erwine Pedaron at 013-760 9454. He cautioned the public against spreading unverified claims that could stir anxiety within the community. "Let the police conduct a thorough investigation. Speculation serves no one and only disrupts public order," he said. Police patrols in the area have since been stepped up to ensure no further disturbances occur.
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Foreign labour pangs
Trafficking foreign workers into Malaysia is becoming a big business. Errant employers and corrupt officers in cahoots with multinational syndicates are profiting at the expense of foreign workers. Most, if not all, of these foreign workers are duped into coming here. On June 2, a record 279 foreigners — 240 Bangladeshis, 33 Pakistanis and six Indians — were turned back at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (MBCA) for failing to meet immigration requirements. And here is the worry: according to the agency's acting director-general Datuk Sazali Mohamad, the case may be just the tip of the iceberg. So what we see is not what we get. Between June 2023 and May last year, 25,568 foreign workers were issued Not-To-Land Orders (NTLs), he told the New Straits Times. How many slipped through MBCA's net remains a mystery. Clearly, Malaysia wants to curb human trafficking, but issuing NTLs and adopting stricter border controls alone won't solve the problem. There is no denying that there are many factors behind the thriving illegal business. But the driving factor is the demand for cheap foreign labour by miscreant employers who work with syndicates at home and abroad. It is here that the authorities must begin. Blacklisting rogue employers would be a good start. Next is government-to-government collaboration between Malaysia and source countries, without which it would be impossible to root out trafficking of foreign workers. Neither Malaysia nor sending countries can deny that syndicates are at work in both places. Such collaboration must involve each taking responsibility to stamp out such syndicates, including weeding out corrupt enforcement officers. This must be followed by bilateral agreements. The Philippines-Malaysia memorandum of understanding for domestic workers offers a strong model, clearly outlining minimum wages and employer responsibilities. Our industry players must not outsource such responsibilities to third parties, a major flaw that contributes to foreign workers becoming undocumented workers in Malaysia. Equally important is to seriously think about our excessive dependence on foreign labour. For sure, demand for foreign workers isn't going to go away by decree. We have become too reliant on them to say that by this or that year we will reduce our intake. Here is why. The Human Resources Ministry last year said there were 2.3 million foreign workers in various sectors such as manufacturing (730,999), construction (646,508), services (394,739), plantation (263,151), agriculture (171,103), domestic work (100,675) and mining and quarrying (571), making up 14.6 per cent of Malaysia's total workforce. With this level of dependence, it isn't easy to reduce our reliance on foreign labour in a few years. Perhaps, what is needed is for policymakers and industry players to plan together for a phased reduction of foreign workers. To compel businesses to hurry with automation would meet with strong resistance. Because automation isn't cheap for many businesses in Malaysia. Large plantations, for example, can afford automation, but smallholders may need incentives such as tax relief. If we can shower such benefits on foreign investors, there isn't a reason why we can't do the same for local businesses.
Daily Express
10 hours ago
- Daily Express
Public input sought for sweeping criminal justice changes
Published on: Monday, June 09, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 09, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Harmindar chairing the CLRC's meeting. KOTA KINABALU: East Malaysians were urged to share their views on proposed criminal justice reforms during a townhall session held in the state capital on Monday. Criminal Law Reform Committee (CLRC) Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal stressed the need for public input in reviewing the Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence Act. Advertisement He encouraged participants to offer frank and courageous feedback, even if it challenged existing legal norms. Harmindar said the reforms must be inclusive and represent the lived experiences of all Malaysians, including those in East Malaysia. Legal Affairs Division Director General Datuk Zamri Misman added that the Government is considering introducing Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA) to better handle corporate and financial crimes. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
