Kuala lumpur: An unemployed man who had been evading authorities for four years was presented before the Magistrate's Court today, facing charges of murdering a businessman in Mont Kiara in 2022.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, VV. Vadivelu, 39, is accused alongside three others, previously charged, of murdering Goh Chok Chuan, 63. The incident occurred at a car park near the guardhouse of Amarin Kiara, Mont Kiara, at 11.40 pm on July 11, 2022.

The charge is under Section 302 of the Penal Code, in conjunction with Section 34, which stipulates the death penalty, or imprisonment ranging from 30 to 40 years. If not sentenced to death, the accused may also face a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

No plea was entered by Vadivelu as murder cases are adjudicated by the High Court. Prosecuting officer M. Alli Nangai did not propose bail, citing the non-bailable nature of the charge. The prosecution requested a mention date to seek consent for transferring the case to the High Court. The three other accused had previously pleaded guilty under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code and have been sentenced.

The court scheduled June 8 for mention. On July 12, 2022, police reported that witnesses heard three gunshots before discovering Goh Chok Chuan's body. The victim had been playing mahjong at a friend's residence in Amarin Kiara and was reportedly shot near his parked car, adjacent to the guardhouse outside the residential area.