Two Brothers Among Four Charged With Murdering Man

Four men, including two brothers, appeared in the Sungai Petani Magistrates' Court on charges of murdering a man at an oil-palm plantation last month.

The accused are Mohamad Bakri Mahidin, 37, his 26-year-old brother Muhamadariff, Mohamad Iekram Mohd. Zaki, 29, and Mohd. Firdaus Che Mustafa, 36. They nodded to indicate that they understood the charges read before Magistrate Noor Farah Hazwani Osman.

No pleas were recorded because the alleged offence falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court. Prosecutors allege that the four acted together in killing Mohd. Badaruddin Md. Nayan, 30, at an oil-palm plantation in Kampung Sungai Division between 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Aug. 23.

The charges were filed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34. If convicted, the defendants face the death penalty or up to 40 years in prison, as well as at least 12 strokes of whipping.

The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Hazwani Mohd. Noor. Lawyer Durratul ’Ain Mahmud Morshidi acted as amicus curiae to inform the court about the medical needs of two defendants. She said Mohamad Iekram holds a physical disability card and has a right-leg injury from an accident, while Mohamad Bakri has asthma. The magistrate said the prison authorities would manage their medical needs. Bail was denied for all four, and the next case mention was set for Nov. 15. Utusan Malaysia had earlier reported the discovery of a man’s body, believed to be in his 30s, at the same location on Aug. 23.