IPOH: The High Court here today sentenced an elderly man to 38 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to murdering his brother and sister-in-law two years ago.
The sentence was handed down by judge Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed following the guilty plea by Ng Chun Ming, 63, on July 16.
He was convicted on two amended charges read in Cantonese at the time.
Chun Ming, who is a father of one and worked as a welder, made the plea on the first day of the trial, which was scheduled from July 15 to 19, 2024.
In the July 16 proceedings, Wahab set today for sentencing and mitigation as the accused changed his plea from not guilty to guilty the day before.
This followed a request from defence lawyers Amir Faliq Mohamad Jamil, Afina Abdul Hakim and Nurhusna Mohd Tharimazi, for a postponement of the sentencing.
The postponement was granted to allow for the reading of case facts and the recording of evidence.
According to the first charge, Chun Ming was accused of causing the death of his elder brother, Chun Hon, 64, at a house in Laluan Bercham Utara 26, Taman Bercham Aman, here, between 6.45pm on July 6, 2022, and 8.20am on July 7, 2022.
For the second charge, he was accused of killing Ooi Tin Lu, 59, at the same place, time and date.
Both charges were framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years.
If not sentenced to death, the accused must be given not less than 12 strokes of the cane for each charge.
The prosecution was handled by deputy public prosecutor Saiful Akmal Mod Said.
In his decision, Wahab said the sentence was given after considering public interest, the accused's remorse, and his early guilty plea, as well as his age.
"Therefore, the court sentences the accused to 38 years in prison for each charge, with the sentences to run concurrently from the date of his arrest," he said.