SIBU: A couple from the Klang Valley who are standing trial for the murder of a woman, whose body was found stuffed in a luggage bag and dumped by a roadside about two-and-a-half years ago, were instructed by the High Court on Monday (May 15) to present their defence.
The defendants, Seow Pei Chie of Subang Jaya, Selangor, and her husband Cheung Chia Ming from Jalan Tun Sambathan, Kuala Lumpur, both 41, were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read in conjunction with Section 34 of the same code, which carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
They were jointly accused of murdering Heng Meow Lin, 38, at a residence in Jalan Tong Sang between Oct 4 and 6, from 10pm to 6am.
After reviewing the prosecution’s case, Justice Datuk Christopher Chin Soo Yin concluded that he had thoroughly examined the entirety of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses as required by law.
He pointed out totality meant appraising the evidence as a whole and not in parts.
Therefore, the decision regarding the existence of a prima facie case is based on the credibility of the evidence as a whole. Justice Chin stated that while certain portions of the prosecution’s evidence may be weak, such weaknesses can be compensated for by other aspects of the evidence when considered collectively.
“I have also considered the requirements to establish common intention under Section 34 of the Penal Code.
“l am satisfied that the prosecution has adduced credible evidence proving the elements of the offence which if unrebutted or unexplained would warrant a conviction.
“Accordingly and pursuant to Section 180 of Criminal Procedure Code, both the accused are called to enter upon their defence to the charge,” Chin added.
He fixed the hearing of the defence case from July 3 to 5.
During the submission of the prima facie case against the defendants, DPP Mark Kenneth Netto informed the court that in March 2016, Heng and her daughter relocated from Perak to Sibu with the intention of starting a food business.
While in Sibu, they lived together with the couple in a shoplot.
At some point, Heng’s daughter witnessed her mother borrowing money from the defendants. According to Netto, Heng struggled to repay the debt, leading to a deterioration of the relationship between Heng and the couple.
The couple began verbally and physically abusing Heng, who, in order to repay the debt, worked as a cook at a restaurant and later became involved in prostitution.
Netto also stated that Heng had attempted to involve her daughter in prostitution, to which the daughter reluctantly agreed due to fear of being abused by the couple.
After the daughter agreed to become a prostitute, Heng informed her that the couple would act as her “guardians”.
In June 2016, the couple took Heng’s daughter to Kuala Lumpur and forced her to work as their maid.
“During this time, the couple extorted money from Heng. After enduring 11 months of abuse by the couple, Heng’s daughter decided to escape. She did so after the couple told her that they would sell her organs in order to repay mother’s debt. She was taken in by a neighbor who then brought her to the hospital for medical treatment. Eventually, she was referred to a shelter home for children.”
“Since the couple lost Heng’s daughter as collateral for the debt, they turned their attention back to Heng. They located her in Sibu and began extorting money from her, acting as her pimps.”
“One of Heng’s fellow prostitutes, who testified as a prosecution witness, was informed by Heng that she owed a never-ending debt belonging to her late husband and had to repay the debt to the couple whom were described as ‘Along Harimau’.”
As per the witness’ testimony, the couple would visit the hotel where Heng worked as a prostitute to collect money from her. The witness had observed the couple frequently subjecting Heng to physical violence, causing her to bleed.
“On 0ct 4, 2020, Seow had brought Heng to the top floor of a house in Jalan Tong Sang, rented by the couple.
“At some point during Oct 4 to 6, 2020, Seow confronted Heng as she suspected she was having an affair with her husband. Seow began to physically abuse Heng and the vicious attack escalated to a point where Seow had, amongst other things, slammed Heng’s head against a wall multiple times.
“Seow then strangled Heng’s neck using a cloth before losing consciousness after a struggle.
“The lifeless body of Heng was later compressed into a luggage bag by the couple. They then zipped and loaded it into a car which was rented by Seow.
“In the early hours of Oct 6, 2020, the couple brought the luggage bag and attempted to throw it into a ditch along Jalan Aman. Whilst doing so in the dark, one of them slipped, causing it to fall and Heng’s body was partially exposed.”
According to Mark, the witness, the couple immediately fled the scene. Later that day, around 6:30 a.m., members of the public discovered Heng’s body.
Paramedics and a police response unit arrived at the location shortly after the body was found.
Throughout the prosecution’s case, a total of 18 witnesses testified.
Seow and Cheung were represented by their respective legal counsels, Ben Lau and Jacob Wong.
