IPOH: A 21-year-old unemployed man was charged in the magistrate's court today with murdering his aunt.
Lee Hao Yi is accused of killing Lee Huey Ting, 54, at a home in Taman Puteri Lindungan Bintang sometime between 1am on Nov 6 and 8.25am on Nov 10.
The charge falls under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carrying the death penalty or 30 to 40 years in prison. If spared from capital punishment, Lee could also face a minimum of 12 strokes of caning upon conviction.
The charge was read to Lee in English before Magistrate Siti Nora Sharif. No plea was recorded, as murder cases are under the High Court's jurisdiction.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Aqilah Syaza Ariffin appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented.
The court then set Feb 18, next year for mention.
It was reported that police believe that Lee may have taken his aunt's life out of frustration over her controlling behaviour.
Acting Perak police chief Deputy Commissioner Zulkafli Sariaat said initial investigations revealed that the victim had been dead for about four days before her body was found.
He said the suspect admitted to injuring his aunt by punching her multiple times.
"The suspect lost his patience, which led him to punch the victim several times before she fell down the stairs. The victim is believed to have lost consciousness and was placed in a locked room.
"It is understood that the victim was in the room for four days. Her sister, who was looking for her, was told by the suspect that the victim had locked herself in the room.
"After noticing a stench coming from the room, the sister immediately lodged a police report, leading to the suspect's arrest," he said.