By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, March 5: In a landmark legal decision, the Federal Court has upheld the death penalty for four local men convicted of the murder of a 32-year-old woman sixteen years ago.
A panel of three judges, comprising Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli, and Datuk Mary Lim Thiam Suan, unanimously dismissed the appeal for a review of the death sentence by the four appellants: Goh Wee Kian, Farose Tamure Mohamad Khan, Abdul Hadi Sabeni, and Saidina Sabeni.
This ruling represents a significant development in Sarawak’s legal framework, marking the first time the Federal Court has rejected an appeal for a review of the death penalty since the enactment of the Temporary Powers of Federal Court (Review of Death Sentence and Life Imprisonment) Act 2023 (Act 847) last year.
The case dates back to May 1, 2010, when the Kuching High Court found all four appellants guilty and sentenced them to death for the murder of Catherine Chong Jang Joon. The gruesome incident occurred in the parking lot of an entertainment center at Central Park, Mile 3, Jalan Penrissen, at around 1.30am on Aug 9, 2007.
All four men were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Code.
The sequence of events leading to the tragic demise of Chong unfolded with Goh initially instructing another individual, identified as a key witness, to intimidate her by scratching her face to prevent her from going out unarmed. Subsequently, Goh enlisted the help of Abdul Hadi, Saidina, and Farose to carry out similar acts.
Abdul Hani and Saidina, who are brothers, alongside Farose, searched for Chong and found her in the aforementioned parking lot. Their initial intention of intimidation escalated into a robbery attempt.
However, when Chong resisted and defended herself with a knife outside the parking lot, the brothers overpowered her and fatally stabbed her with the same weapon, inflicting no less than five stab wounds to her neck and upper chest area.
Following the horrific act, Farose, Abdul Hadi, and Saidina were allegedly paid RM1,600 each after informing Goh of the completion of their tasks, with the exchange taking place underneath the Bintawa Bridge.
Chong’s body was discovered by patrons of nearby establishments in the early hours of the morning, prompting a police investigation and subsequent legal proceedings. — DayakDaily
