Photo shows the Kuching Court Complex. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING (Aug 24): An Indonesian man was charged in the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday with the murder of two countrymen and assault of a local boat skipper.
No plea was recorded from Kim Loi Ujin, 42, when the charges were read out to him before Magistrate Zaiton Anuar as the case is to be transferred to the High Court.
The magistrate fixed Sept 24 for further mention and ordered the accused to be placed on extended remand as murder is a non-bailable offence.
Kim allegedly murdered co-crew members Wong Jing Soon, 24, and Ngu Yu Soon, 25 around 2.30am on Aug 16 on a boat docked near Muara Tabuan Light Industrial Park, Jalan Setia Raja here.
The charges are framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code which provides for the death penalty, upon conviction.
The accused was also charged with assaulting boat skipper Ngu Swee Hock, 52, using a machete.
Assault under Section 324 of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail penalty of 10 years and with a fine or whipping, or both, upon conviction.
It was claimed that Kim had ran amok as he could not control his emotions due to allegedly being bullied and forced to resign for not taking the Covid-19 vaccination.
He had been working on the boat for about six months.
The accused was said to have surrendered himself to police following the incident.
Inspector Merylene Lindan Andrew Mang prosecuted in the case.