Two Thai Men Charged With Murder of MMEA Officer in Kangar

Two Thai nationals were charged at the Magistrate’s Court in Kangar on Thursday (Nov 5) over the MMEA officer murder near a fisheries jetty in Sungai Padang late last month, Bernama reported.

Pradit Rimat, 22, and Rotchahan Tehpuyu, 21, are jointly accused of killing Mohd Roshaimi Mohd Ridzuan, a 41-year-old MMEA officer. No plea was recorded from either man after the charge was read to them in Thai through an interpreter.

Charged over MMEA officer murder

According to the charge, the two men allegedly committed the offence near the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority jetty in Sungai Padang, Kangar, between 11pm on Oct 26 and 1.30am on Oct 27.

They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34. The report said the charge carries the death penalty or, if the death sentence is not imposed, imprisonment of 30 to 40 years and at least 12 strokes of the cane.

Magistrate Ana Rozana Mohd Nor did not record a plea as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court. MMEA deputy public prosecutors Wirna Arifin and Kamaliza Md Zain prosecuted, while both accused were not represented by counsel. No bail was allowed.

Smuggling and immigration charges

The pair were also brought before Sessions Court Judge Sharifah Norazlita Syed Salim Idid, where they were charged with smuggling nine Myanmar migrants using an unregistered boat in waters off the mouth of Sungai Padang between 11pm on Oct 26 and 12.30am on Oct 27. No plea was recorded on that charge.

The smuggling charge was framed under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which the report said carries up to five years’ jail, a fine of up to RM250,000, or both.

Both men pleaded guilty to a separate charge of entering Malaysia through an ungazetted route at the same place and time, under Section 5(2) read with Section 56(1A)(a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. Deputy public prosecutor Nur Afiqah Zakaria asked for a new mention date pending documents from the Immigration Department.

Next court dates

The Magistrate’s Court fixed Jan 5 next year for mention of the murder case, pending the post-mortem and chemical reports.

The Sessions Court set Dec 15 for mention of the smuggling and immigration cases. The same date was fixed for the appointment of a Myanmar interpreter for seven Myanmar nationals, including a woman, who were charged with illegal entry. Bail was also not allowed for the Myanmar nationals.

#latestmalaysia

Man Now Charged With Murder of Elderly Felda Settler in Pengerang