Bodyguard pleads not guilty
GEORGE TOWN: The 38-year-old bodyguard who went on a shooting rampage at Lebuhraya Dr Lim Choong Eu here in December last year pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here yesterday to five counts of attempted murder.
Ja’afar Halid was charged with shooting K. Arivani, 33, in the head; Nurul Huda Ab Aziz, 38, in the shoulder; Lee Hong Boon, 56, in the chest, Mohamad Amirul Amin Mohamed Amer, 28, in the chest, and Puah Bee Joo, 32, in the shoulder with a Glock 19 handgun.
He was alleged to have committed the offences at Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu near the Penang Bridge exit between 7.15am and 7.30am on Dec 1 last year.
Ja’afar was charged at the Sessions Court on Dec 14 last year under Section 307 of the Penal Code. The offence carries a maximum 20 years’ jail if convicted.
The then Sessions judge Irwan Suainbon sent Ja’afar for psychiatric evaluation at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Perak for one month.
After recording Ja’afar’s plea yesterday, Judge Roslan Hamid set April 24 for mention and for the accused to appoint a lawyer.
Deputy public prosecutors Nurul Huda Idris and Lim Saw Sim appeared for the prosecution.
Ja’afar was then taken to two magistrate’s courts where he had earlier been charged with three counts of murder and one count of causing hurt.
In the first court, he appeared before magistrate Mohamad Amin Shahul Hamid for the murder of Ong Teik Kwong, 32, Choi Hon Ming, 32, and Senthil Murugiah, 38, at the same place and time.
Ja’afar had allegedly shot Ong at the back of the head, Choi at the left chest and right thigh, and Senthil at the left chest, with a Glock 19.
Amin set April 24 for mention. No plea was recorded. Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Fatin Hussin prosecuted.
In the second court, Ja’afar appeared before magistrate Sharifah Izura Syed Mashor for allegedly injuring Lim Boon Leng, 32, by hitting him on the head with a Glock 19 at the same place and time. He pleaded not guilty.
Sharifah Izura also set April 24 for mention. Deputy public prosecutor Noor Azura Zulkiflee appeared for prosecution.