The accused merely nodded to indicate that he understood the charge when it was read out before Magistrate Mustaqim Sukarno.
BATU PAHAT: A 16-year-old Form Four student was charged in the Magistrate’s Court here today with the murder of his classmate, Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal, earlier this month.
The accused merely nodded to indicate that he understood the charge when it was read out before Magistrate Mustaqim Sukarno.
However, no plea was recorded as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
According to the charge sheet, the accused is alleged to have committed culpable homicide by causing the victim’s death between 2.30 pm and 4 pm on Oct 3, at the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Dato’ Seth school hall.
For this offence, he is charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment for a term of 30 to 40 years, along with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane, if the death penalty is not imposed.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Juanita Mohd. Said and Firdaus Ruslan prosecuted, while the accused was represented by Mohd. Azlan Shah Mohd. Allias and Suhaila Shafi’uddin.
The court set Dec 22 for mention of the case at the Yong Peng Magistrate’s Court, pending the forensic and post-mortem reports, before the matter is transferred to the High Court.
The court further stated that no bail would be granted, given that the accused is charged with murder.
Meanwhile, Mohd. Azlan Shah indicated that the accused would be held in a separate cell, apart from other detainees.
On Oct 3, it was reported that Irene Sofiya was found dead, suspected to be the victim of murder, inside the school hall at approximately 5.30 pm.
Johor Police Chief Datuk Ab. Rahaman Arsad said that the victim was found covered in blood, having sustained severe injuries to her head and body.
Following this, he said police had remanded a 16-year-old male teenager to assist in the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code.