Final appeal dismissed: Duo to serve 35 years, receive 15 strokes for 2018 Sibu murder

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By Dorcas Ting

KUCHING, Apr 28: Two men convicted of murdering a 58-year-old woman in Pulau Kerto, Sibu, in 2018 will serve 35 years in prison and receive 15 strokes of the cane after the Federal Court dismissed their final appeal today.

A three-judge panel chaired by Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang unanimously ruled that there were no grounds to interfere with the Court of Appeal’s earlier decision, describing the sentence as proportionate to the gravity of the offence.

The bench, which included Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, also relied on forensic findings confirming the victim died from traumatic asphyxia and drowning.

Jeeji Ting Kim Leong of Nanga Assan and Syahadan Othman Sabang from Kapit were convicted under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, for acting with common intention in causing the death of Ting Poh Sing.

The offence carries either the death penalty or a custodial sentence of between 30 and 40 years, along with no fewer than 12 strokes of the cane if capital punishment is not imposed.

They were found to have killed the woman at an unnumbered house in Pulau Kerto between 1am and 7.10pm on June 27, 2018.

The High Court in Sibu had originally sentenced both men to death on July 31, 2023, citing the brutality of the attack.

However, the Court of Appeal on Oct 21, 2024, set aside the death penalty and replaced it with 35 years’ imprisonment, backdated to their arrest in 2018, and 15 strokes of the cane, noting that capital punishment should be reserved for the most extreme cases.

In their final appeal, the defence sought a reduction of the prison term to the statutory minimum of 30 years.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Zain Ibrahim opposed the request, arguing that the existing sentence was lawful and commensurate with the facts.

The apex court agreed, ultimately upholding the punishment imposed by the Court of Appeal. Jeeji Ting was represented by Jong Yee Ling, while Syahadan was defended by Simon Siah. — DayakDaily

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