The year 2025 proved to be a landmark one for Sarawak’s judiciary, with a range of high-profile court cases from high-profile murder trials and stringent drug convictions to politically charged defamation suits.
These cases not only delivered legal outcomes but also sparked wider public debate, influencing perceptions on justice, governance, state autonomy and the rule of law.
Murders and High-Profile Violence
One of the most closely followed cases was the murder of 28-year-old Nurul Asikin “Amoi” Lan.
Her body was found in a drain near Jalan Setia Raja in Tabuan Jaya, Kuching, in December 2024, and her identity was later confirmed by DNA testing a grim discovery that prompted widespread concern and media attention.
Police investigations revealed that the suspect, Zakwan Mokhtar, a 23-year-old e-hailing driver had confessed to killing her allegedly to steal jewellery to fund travel abroad for a football match.
In 2025, the murder charge against Zakwan was actively prosecuted in Kuching courts. Initially set down for mention in the Magistrates’ Court to await forensic evidence and WhatsApp data, the case was subsequently transferred to the Kuching High Court, as is standard for capital murder charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries either the death penalty or life imprisonment with whipping upon conviction.
Another significant development was the Federal Court’s decision in a Sibu murder appeal, where the court commuted the death sentence of a convicted brother to 35 years’ imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane.
Meanwhile, in a separate appellate ruling, the Federal Court upheld a death sentence against a father convicted of murdering his infant son, a case highlighting the continuing application of capital punishment under Malaysian criminal law for the gravest offences.
Other ongoing murder investigations included extended remands and obstruction-related charges, such as a suspect in Padawan charged for deleting CCTV evidence related to a homicide, illustrating that prosecutions now address not just fatal acts themselves but also evidence tampering, which is crucial to upholding justice.
Drug Offences: A Year of Robust Enforcement
Throughout 2025, Sarawak’s anti-narcotics courts remained active in meting out stern sentences, reflecting the judiciary’s ongoing commitment to combat drug abuse and trafficking.
Noteworthy outcomes included:
- Ten years’ imprisonment and 10 strokes of the cane for a man in Sibu found guilty of possessing over 34 grammes of methamphetamine.
- Circuit court sessions in Bau, where 31 defendants were convicted on various drug-offence charges under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, with fines and prison terms imposed depending on the quantity and role in the offence.
- High Court appeals upheld multi-year prison terms for serious drug offences, reaffirming the courts’ unwillingness to soften sentences on drugs upon review.
- At least one major trafficking charge was dismissed due to insufficient prima facie evidence, signalling that conviction even in drug crimes requires the court to be satisfied beyond reasonable procedural thresholds.
Accident Trials: Road Safety Accountability
In Kuching, a multi-vehicle collision that claimed five lives at Jalan Teo Kui Seng was brought into focus when the 15-year-old driver pleaded guilty in the Magistrates’ Court to reckless driving causing death.
The 15-year-old teenage boy was then sent to Henry Gurney School for six years until the age of 21, in relation with the first amended charge, which is under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 and punishable under the same section for driving recklessly on a public road, resulting in the deaths of five individuals, aged between 16 and 42.
In the meantime, the boy’s father, Lawan Akie Suma, 35, was fined RM15,000 or 12 months’ jail for failing to properly supervise his son, which led to the tragic accident. He pleaded guilty before Court Assistant Registrar Nuraini Ahmad under Section 33(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
Lawan, a labourer, was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service within four months under Section 33(2) of the same Act.
In Sibu, the courts handed down a five-year imprisonment term and RM20,000 fine to a Chinese national who caused the death of the Sabah State Courts Director in a two-vehicle collision, reinforcing that serious road accidents bear significant legal consequences, particularly where reckless conduct is established.
Other accident investigations, including cases where victims succumbed to injuries weeks after collisions, remained under police and court scrutiny.
Political Defamation: Dr Sim vs Chong Chieng Jen
Perhaps no case this year captured the intersection of politics, social media and legal accountability more than the defamation suit brought by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian against Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen.
In December 2025, the Kuching High Court ruled decisively in favour of Dr Sim, finding that Chong’s widely circulated Facebook posts in April 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic contained statements that were “maliciously published and calculated to injure” Dr Sim’s reputation by alleging misuse of RM800,000 in state food-aid funds.
Judge Datuk Dr Alwi Abdul Wahab ordered Chong to pay Dr Sim RM500,000 in damages and costs, comprising RM350,000 for general/aggravated defamation damages, RM50,000 for malicious falsehood and RM100,000 in legal costs.
The judge also dismissed Chong’s counterclaim entirely, noting that statements by Dr Sim published in related media reporting were not defamatory.
In the aftermath, political figures such as Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap emphasised respect for the independence of the courts and the rule of law in democratic society.
A Year of Legal Milestones
From the pursuit of justice in tragic homicides and the determined crackdown on drug crimes to landmark defamation decisions, 2025 was a year in which Sarawak’s courts were tested on multiple fronts.
These cases reaffirmed key principles: the rule of law across criminal, civil and political arenas, the importance of evidence and procedural integrity, and the critical role that courts play in balancing individual rights with public interest and state autonomy.
As 2026 approaches, Sarawakians will watch with keen interest how ongoing trials, appeals and high-stakes disputes continue to unfold, shaping not just legal precedent but the state’s broader social and political landscape.
