Kampung gajah: The High Court here has sentenced a man to death by hanging for the murder of a Bangladeshi worker in the Sungai Kinta, Sungai Galah area, Kampung Gajah in the Perak Tengah district, seven years ago. Judge Su Tiang Joo delivered the verdict, finding 28-year-old Mohamad Amier Amzar Mohamad Aspar guilty of the premeditated murder of MD Ovaidul, 32, which occurred between 8.20 pm and 10.25 pm on December 15, 2018, under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Judge Su Tiang Joo emphasized the premeditated and brutal nature of the crime in his judgment. He noted the prolonged agony inflicted on the victim, who was beaten in his house, taken to the riverbank, and ultimately killed. The body was then disposed of in the river to conceal the crime. Judge Su ruled that these actions warranted the death penalty, as prescribed by Section 277 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The judge highlighted aggravating factors in the case, including interference with a prosecution witness, the extent of the victim's injuries, and the disposal of the body. He also addressed the nationality of the parties involved, stating that under Article 8, Sub-Article 1 of the Federal Constitution, all individuals are equal before the law, regardless of nationality.
MD Hossain Khan, the victim's brother, provided a victim impact statement on behalf of their family in Bangladesh, with the assistance of an interpreter. He described MD Ovaidul as the third of six siblings, whose income in Malaysia supported their family in Bangladesh. MD Hossain recounted his brother's plans to return home to marry, dreams that were shattered by his murder at the hands of his employer's son.
The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor JS Geetha, while the defense was represented by lawyer V. Santhiran. After the verdict, the accused embraced his family, who were visibly emotional.
The trial commenced on January 6, 2020, and included testimony from 24 prosecution witnesses and one defense witness, the accused. The case gained media attention when the victim's body was discovered with one leg tied to a motorcycle in the Sungai Kinta, Sungai Galah area on December 18, 2018.