Accused shocked that he was sentenced to death for the murder of a businessman whose remains were burnt.
- Victim died from stab wound to the heart inflicted by brass knuckle blade
- Body burnt under a pile of old tyres at palm oil estate
The High Court sentenced 37-year-old ship cleaner Izwanuddin Kassim to death for murdering Yong Boon Cheong, 54, whose remains were found burnt in an oil palm estate three years ago.
The incident took place at the Skudai highway in Johor between 6am and 7am on Jul 4, 2014.
Yong’s body was burnt by the accused under a pile of old tyres at a palm oil estate in Batu Pahat. The fire was started with petrol bought by Izwanuddin.
Yong was the owner of a plastics factory in Jalan Skudai-Danga Bay. He was last seen alive arguing with a man and woman near his home.
The accused, who worked in Singapore and was married with two children, was stunned when the decision was made by the court and was seen sobbing in the dock.
In delivering his judgment, Judge Datuk Mohd Sofian Abd Razak said the prosecution had proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt against the accused and the court was satisfied with the testimonies of the 28 witnesses who were called during the trial.
The court had determined, among other things, that Izwanuddin was present at all events that led to Yong’s death, including the disposal of his body.
“The pathologist from Sultanah Aminah Hospital who examined the body concluded that the victim died from a stab wound to the heart before he was set on fire,” Sofian said.
He said one of the prosecution witnesses also testified that the accused was in possession of a brass knuckle blade, which matched the stab wound on the victim.
Izwanuddin was initially jointly charged with Noriskandar Zainal Yahya, a Singaporean man, with the murder.
However, Noriskandar subsequently pleaded guilty to an amended charge of trying to dispose of evidence. He was sentenced by the Sessions Court to eight years’ jail on the amended charge earlier this year.