SIBU: A former van driver, indicted on two counts of murder and an additional charge of voluntarily causing grievous harm, will receive his verdict on February 21 of next year.
High Court Judge Wong Siong Tung set the date today for the delivery of his judgment, following clarifications from both the prosecution and defense after the submission of their final arguments in a full trial.
Ahmad Robin, 32, faces his first charge for the alleged murder of an Indonesian woman named Pandang Sarang, which took place at the Oil Palm Plantation road, Block A3 of Ladang Lassa, Jaya Tiasa in the Daro district on February 11 last year.
The second charge alleges that he caused the death of another Indonesian woman, Muli Laha, on the same date and district, but at a different location: the Oil Palm Plantation road, Ladang Tanjung Alan Tradewind.
These charges, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carry a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
The third charge against Ahmad alleges that he caused grievous harm to Tene, another Indonesian woman, using a stone by the roadside at Lorong Ladang A6, Ladang Lassa, Jaya Tiasa in the Daro district on February 11 last year.
This offense, falling under Section 326 of the Penal Code, is punishable by imprisonment for up to 20 years and may include a fine or whipping if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Mark Kenneth Netto, representing the prosecution, informed the court that the accused has failed to discharge his burden of proving duress or raising a reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.
Throughout the trial, a total of 25 prosecution witnesses were called to testify against Ahmad, who was represented by court-appointed counsel Ben Lau.
