Navy guards charged with murder
Three also accused of assault, more personnel expected to be hauled up soon
MANJUNG: Three Royal Malaysian Navy detention unit guards were charged with the murders and assault of two other seamen and more are expected to be hauled up next week.
At least seven people have been remanded over the case so far.
Amid heavy police presence, family members of the accused and victims packed the magistrate’s courtroom, anxious to find out what would become of the accused.
The mood was tense although family members made no attempt to provoke each other.
At about 11am, first accused Mohd Izhrifikri Roslee was brought in handcuffs to the dock through a staircase from within the courtroom and was read two charges – one each for the murders of Nik Muhammad Baihaqy Nik Mat, 28, and Muhammad Lailaltuiman Mohd Sukri, 26.
Mohd Izhrifikri, 29, is believed to have caused their deaths at the Sungai Wangi Navy Communications Centre training field in Sitiawan near here between 10.30am and 3.20pm on Sept 29. No plea was recorded. Lawyer Zalil Mohd Mess, who held a watching brief for Muhammad Lailaltuiman’s family, told the court that a representation has been made with the AttorneyGeneral’s Chambers to have the case heard in military court.
“This is because the civil court process will take years to complete compared to the military court process, which takes significantly less time,” he said.
In the same courtroom, Hamzah Zakaria @Ali and Mohd Farid Musa were charged with voluntarily causing hurt to the deceased.
Hamzah, 35, claimed trial to separate charges of assaulting the two deceased at the walkway in front of a detention room at about 10.30am on Sept 29.
Mohd Farid, 32, claimed trial to assaulting Nik Muhammad Baihaqy at the guard post of the detention centre at about 12.30am on Sept 28.
Both Hamzah and Mohd Farid asked for a low bail as they were sole breadwinners of their families, with wives and children to feed.
Magistrate Nur Shaqira Ibrahim set bail at RM4,000 in one surety for each charge brought against Hamzah and Mohd Farid and set Oct 30 for mention.
She set Dec 12 for mention of the murder case.
All three accused, who were unrepresented, hold the rank of Leading Rate.