By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, March 16: An unemployed man was brought before the Magistrate’s Court here today to face a murder charge over the death of an Indonesian national whose body was found by the roadside along Jalan Lumba Kuda Penrissen Lama in Padawan last year.
The 30-year-old accused was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, for allegedly acting in concert with another man in causing the death of the 37-year-old victim.
Under the law, the offence carries the death penalty upon conviction. Alternatively, offenders may face imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, along with no fewer than 12 strokes of the cane.
No plea was recorded after the charge was read out before Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan.
Based on the charge, the accused and his 35-year-old accomplice allegedly murdered the victim by the roadside along Jalan Lumba Kuda Penrissen Lama between 1.47am and 2.37am on Nov 23, 2025.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan informed the court that the post-mortem report has yet to be completed and requested a new date for the case to be mentioned.
As the offence is non-bailable, the accused was not offered bail. The court fixed April 23 for further mention and case management, with the accused to remain in remand until then.
The accused was not represented by legal counsel.
The court also heard that a 35-year-old satay trader had earlier been charged in connection with the same case at the Magistrate’s Court on Dec 9, 2025.
Initial reports on the incident stated that members of the public had alerted police after discovering the body of a foreign man lying at the location.
Padawan district police chief Supt Mohd Irwan Hafiz Md Radzi had previously said that police received the report at about 8.05am on Nov 23.
Investigations by the Padawan district police criminal investigation division, together with the Sarawak contingent forensic unit, found that the victim had suffered an injury to the forehead.
A medical officer later confirmed the man’s death at the scene.
Authorities believe the killing may have been linked to a debt dispute. — DayakDaily
