KUCHING: An unemployed man was charged in the Magistrates’ Court here today with the murder of an Indonesian national whose body was found by the roadside along Old Penrissen Road near Jalan Lumba Kuda last November.
The 30-year-old accused was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code.
The offence carries the death penalty, or if not sentenced to death, imprisonment for not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years, along with not fewer than 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.
However, no plea was recorded after the charge was read before Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan.
According to the charge, the accused allegedly acted together with a 35-year-old accomplice with common intention to murder a 37-year-old Indonesian man.
The offence was alleged to have taken place by the roadside along Jalan Lumba Kuda, Old Penrissen Road in Padawan between 1.47am and 2.37am on Nov 23, 2025.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan requested for a new mention date as the post-mortem report has yet to be completed.
No bail was offered as the charge is a non-bailable offence. The court fixed April 23 for case management.
The accused was also ordered to remain in remand until the disposal of the case.
Investigations were conducted by investigating officer ASP Steel Entai with assistance from Inspector Musyiri Johari and Sergeant-Major Ridvaner Haddi.
The accused was not represented by counsel.
It is understood that the motive behind the killing was related to an unpaid debt.
Meanwhile, on Dec 9, 2025, a 35-year-old satay seller was also brought before the Magistrates’ Court to face the same charge.
Earlier media reports stated that members of the public had discovered the body of a foreign man lying at the scene.
Padawan police chief Supt Mohd Irwan Hafiz Md Radzi said police received a report from the public at about 8.05am on Nov 23, 2025.
Investigations by the Criminal Investigation Division of Padawan District Police Headquarters together with the Sarawak Police Contingent Headquarters forensics team found that the 37-year-old victim had injuries on his forehead.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by a medical officer.
