Kuala lumpur: The Alor Setar High Court has sentenced an unemployed man to death for the murder of a three-year-old girl, whose body was discovered in a forested area at Gunung Raya, Langkawi, six years ago. Justice Evawani Farisyta Mohammad delivered the death sentence to Ramlan Abdul Rashid, 44, after convicting him of murdering Nur Aisyah Aleya Abdullah at a hospital staff quarters in Langkawi. The crime occurred between 9 am and 10 am on February 23, 2019, under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the judge's written judgment, published on the judiciary's website on July 31, revealed that the victim died from injuries resulting from prolonged abuse by the accused. The court considered this a grave offence. Justice Evawani noted the lack of humanity displayed by the accused when he disposed of the child's body in the forest without proper religious rites. She also remarked on the accused's lack of remorse or repentance throughout the trial.

Evidence presented in court included confirmation from a chemist that the skull and teeth found at the crime scene belonged to the victim, who was the biological daughter of the complainant, the victim's mother. The judge emphasized that the victim was an innocent child who should have been protected by the accused, an adult entrusted with her care.

The prosecution's case detailed that in November 2018, the victim and her mother moved into the staff quarters shared by the accused and his wife, a nurse. The mother left her daughter in the accused's care daily while she worked at a food stall. In January 2019, the accused arranged for the mother to stay at a hostel provided by her workplace, but the child remained with him at the staff quarters.

In February 2019, during a visit to the accused's home, the victim's mother could not find her daughter, prompting her to file a police report. The accused claimed he had entrusted the girl to someone else but refused to reveal the person's identity or location. Subsequent police investigations led to the discovery of the victim's remains in a forested area of Gunung Raya, Langkawi, in March 2019.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Rizal Fadzil represented the prosecution, while the defense counsel for the accused was Ai Cha Ran.