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43-year-old Mohd Hanafi Fatahur Rahim was recently charged at the Magistrate Court in Kota Tinggi, Johor, under Section 302 of the Penal Code for shooting dead his 38-year-old wife as she slept in their home
The accused, a backhoe driver, only nodded when asked if he understood the charge after it was read in front of magistrate Rashidah Baharom, reported New Straits Times yesterday, 16 March.
No plea was recorded.
Rashidah set 18 April for mention of the case and for the submission of the chemistry, forensics, and post mortem reports. Section 302 carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
He is accused of killing Noor Hasliza Alias at a house in Taman Sri Saujana at 3.30am on 1 March.
According to Johor police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, the murder took place following an argument between the couple, during which the wife had asked for a divorce.
The 43-year-old suspect allegedly shot his wife while she was sleeping. He then wrapped the victim in a blanket before placing the body in a blue plastic barrel that was dumped at an open field nearby.
Image via Zain Ahmed/New Straits Times
The accused, meanwhile, has been sentenced to a total of six years in jail after he pleaded guilty to four charges of possession of an unlicensed rifle that he used to shoot dead the 38-year-old victim
The sentencing took place in a separate proceeding at the Sessions Court, where he faced four charges under Section 4 of the Firearms Act 1960 for possession of firearms and bullets without a valid licence.
Judge Zahillah Mohammad Yusoff sentenced Hanafi to five, four, six, and five years in jail for the four offences and ordered the sentences to run concurrently from the date of his arrest on 1 March.