GEORGE TOWN: A 41-year-old bodyguard who killed his boss and two others in the middle of a busy expressway here four years ago has been found guilty of murder and the attempted murder of five others at the High Court here today.
Ja’afar Halid was sentenced to death by hanging for murdering his boss Ong Teik Kwon, 32, entertainer Choi Hon Ming, 32, and florist Senthil Murugaiah, 38.
He was sentenced to 15 years’ jail for attempting to murder Dr Arivarni Kershnian, 33, factory worker Lee Hong Boon, 32, RTM videographer Mohamad Amirul Amin Mohamed Amir, 28, and banker Poh Bee Joo, 32.
Ja’afar was accused of committing the offence on the Penang Bridge exit (southbound) of the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway here between 7.15pm and 7.30pm on Dec 1, 2016.
He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which carries the death penalty, and Section 307 for attempted murder which carries a maximum life sentence.
Justice Abdul Wahab Mohamed, in handing down the sentence, said the defence had failed to prove that he was of unsound mind or under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident.
He said the prosecution had proven beyond a reasonable doubt he had committed the crimes knowingly.
Outside the court, lawyer Anbananthan Yathiraju said he would be filing an appeal against the decision, as the defence feels there was enough evidence to prove medical and legal insanity.
The 2016 incident on the Penang highway was one of the rare shooting incidents in the state. Police said Ja’afar had first opened fire on his boss in a BMW car.
He then got down from the car and continued shooting, killing two passersby and wounding five others. Police have described the incident as a “rampage”.
A 1km stretch of the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway was closed to motorists for six hours to allow police to search for evidence at the time.
Last July, the High Court here awarded RM114,470 in damages to RTM videographer Mohamad Amirul Amin Mohamed Amir, who had sued GMP Kaisar Security Sdn Bhd (GMP) for vicarious liability.
During the 2018 trial, a document was also made available to the court showing that Ja’afar had worked as a bodyguard for then PKR leaders Azmin Ali, between 2008 and 2009, and Nurul Izzah Anwar (2009-2010).