Immigration officers to enter defence on murder of detainee

PUTRAJAYA: Two immigration officers were ordered by the Court of Appeal here yesterday to enter their defence on a charge of murdering a Bangladeshi detainee in 2014.

Mohd Aminnudin Mohd Yasin and Zuhairul Effendy Zualkafli, both 34, were initially acquitted by the Kangar High Court on Oct 1 last year at the end of the prosecution’s case, without being ordered to enter their defence, on a charge of killing Abu Bakar Siddique.

A three-man Court of Appeal bench, chaired by Justice Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, allowed the prosecution’s appeal to set aside their acquittal and to order the duo to enter their defence.

She ruled the prosecution succeeded in proving a prima facie case against the two officers. She said the High Court judge failed to consider the totality of the evidence of witnesses that the deceased died due to injuries sustained as a result of being hit.

Justice Tengku Maimun ordered both men to be remanded until the disposal of their case and set Oct 27 for mention before the Kangar High Court. Presiding with her were Justices Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi and Datuk Kamardin Hashim.

Aminnudin and Zuhairul Effendy were accused of murdering the 45year-old Bangladeshi, who was without valid travel documents, in the pantry of the Immigration office at the Home Ministry Complex here between 10pm and 11pm on Oct 29, 2014.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin appeared for the prosecution while lawyer Rahamathullah Baharudeen represented both men. Bernama