By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Aug 1: Three men were charged at the Magistrate’s Court in Kota Samarahan today, with the murder of an Indonesian man last month.
Keithson Imang Tuba, 19, Ryan Mccallister Raedy, 19, and Raymondson Ding Tuba, 24, were charged with the murder of a man found dead at a ditch nearby the Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (Tropi) at the Kuching-Kota Samarahan Expressway on July 15.
No plea was taken from the accused when the charge was read out in front of Magistrate Afidah Abdul Rahman.
The three accused, who were unrepresented, were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
According to Kota Samarahan District police chief, DSP Lee Chong Chern, the cause of death was asphyxiation due to drowning compounded by blunt trauma to the head. The deceased was found with his hands tied behind his back.
It is understood that the victim, identified as Damian Wati, 20, was born in Sarawak and was put under the care of a local family in Landeh since he was young.
Five suspects were arrested after the discovery of the body, whereby two among them will become witnesses under Section 118 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Magistrate Afidah ordered the two suspects to be released on court bail of RM5,000 with one local surety following the expiry of their remand order.
Meanwhile, the three accused will be further remanded at the Puncak Borneo Prison.
DDP Michelle Lim Wan Chen prosecuted. The court fixed Sept 17 for mention. — DayakDaily
