Latest news with #RKamaraj
Malay Mail
12 hours ago
- Malay Mail
No reprieve for ex-lorry driver as Federal Court dismisses final appeal in 2016 culpable homicide
PUTRAJAYA, June 16 — The Federal Court today upheld the 18-year prison sentence of a former lorry driver convicted of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the death of an Indian national in 2016. A three-member bench consisting of Justices Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof, Datuk Nordin Hassan and Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera unanimously dismissed R. Kamaraj's final appeal against his conviction and sentence. 'We do not find any reason to disturb the findings of the courts below, both in terms of the conviction and sentence,' said Justice Zabariah, affirming the Court of Appeal's decision, which upheld the Seremban High Court's ruling. Kamaraj, 35, was found guilty by the High Court for causing the death of M. Selvam, 39, in a school compound in Senawang, Negeri Sembilan, at 8pm on November 27, 2016. He had initially been charged with two others – S. Kumaravelan and P. Tanabalan – for murder. Tanabalan, 42, passed away before the trial started. On December 29, 2021, the High Court convicted both Kamaraj and Kumaravelan, 31, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Kamaraj was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment, while Kumaravelan received a 13-year jail term. Kamaraj appealed to the Court of Appeal, but his appeal was dismissed on April 29, last year. He then brought his case to the Federal Court. Kumaravelan, meanwhile, withdrew his appeal at the Court of Appeal. During the trial, a florist testified that Selvam, her employee, was taken by three men, including the appellant, from her stall following a dispute involving money she had entrusted to Selvam. The woman told the court that Kamaraj became enraged when Selvam admitted to spending part of the money and requested more time to repay it. She testified she had been in a relationship with the appellant (Kamaraj) at that time and had saved the money for their intended marriage. Selvam was subsequently assaulted and was hospitalised. He later died from his injuries. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
13 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-lorry driver's 18-year jail term for killing Indian national upheld
A three-member Federal Court panel chaired by Justice Zabariah Yusof said there was no reason to disturb the findings of the lower courts on the conviction and sentence meted out to R Kamaraj. PUTRAJAYA : The Federal Court today unanimously upheld the 18-year jail sentence imposed on a former lorry driver for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. A three-member panel chaired by Justice Zabariah Yusof said there was no reason to disturb the findings of the lower courts on the conviction and sentence meted out to R Kamaraj, 35. 'The appeal is dismissed, and the decisions of the Court of Appeal and the High Court are affirmed,' she said. Also on the bench were Justices Nordin Hassan and Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera. Kamaraj, S Kumaravelan, 31, and P Tanabalan, 50, were jointly charged with the murder of Indian national M Selvam in front of an empty house in Taman Bandar Seremban, Senawang, Negeri Sembilan, on Nov 27, 2016. Tanabalan died of a heart attack while awaiting trial. At the close of the prosecution's case, the High Court in Seremban ordered Kamaraj and Kumaravelan to enter their defence for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, which carries a jail term of up to 30 years upon conviction. Kamaraj was sentenced to 18 years in prison while Kumaravelan received 13 years. Both men appealed to the Court of Appeal for a reduction in their sentences, although Kumaravelan later withdrew his appeal. The Court of Appeal upheld Kamaraj's sentence after he confessed to the crime. According to the facts of the case, Kamaraj's girlfriend entrusted Selvam with an undisclosed sum of money, but Selvam later refused to return it. Kamaraj then enlisted the help of Kumaravelan and Tanabalan to 'teach Selvam a lesson' by physically assaulting him, including beating him with a stick. The trial judge imposed a lighter sentence on Kumaravelan, noting that he had played a lesser role in the incident. Today, deputy public prosecutor How May Ling argued that the 18-year sentence was not excessive as it was imposed after a full trial and reflected the severity of the crime. 'The sentence took into account the gravity and number of injuries inflicted on the deceased,' she said, citing 67 injuries, including to vital organs. 'A reduction in sentence would send the wrong message to the public,' she added. Defence lawyer Amirul Jamaluddin argued that Kamaraj's conviction was unsafe due to the questionable credibility of prosecution witnesses. Another lawyer, Afifuddin Ahmad Hafifi, contended that there was a disparity in sentencing between Kamaraj and Kumaravelan, despite both being charged with common intention.
