KUCHING: A mechanic was charged in the Magistrate’s Court today with the murder of a three-year-old girl, whose death earlier this month is believed to have resulted from abuse.
However, no plea was taken from Mohammad Shukri Ryan, 32, after the charge was read out before Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali.
According to the charge sheet, he is accused of murdering the victim at a house in Kampung Rampangi, Jalan Sultan Tengah, at around 7:45 pm on October 7.
Shukri is charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death penalty, or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, and not less than 12 strokes of the cane.
Nursyaheeqa fixed November 21 for case mention pending the post-mortem report and and no bail was offered.
Shukri was ordered to be remanded until that date.
Deputy Public Prosecutor, Chuah Kai Sheng, prosecuted, while Shukri was unrepresented.
In an earlier statement, Kuching Police Chief, ACP Alexson Naga Chabu, said investigations found that the child was allegedly abused to death on October 7 before her passing was reported to the police.
“On October 8, police received a report from a 52-year-old local man, who was informed by his friend at around 9:45 pm on October 7 that his three-year-old daughter had died.
“Initial investigations found that the child was believed to have been abused to death,” he said.
Acting on information, a team from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) arrested Shukri, who is also the boyfriend of the victim’s mother, at Kampung Krian, Jalan Padawan, at about 11:00 am on October 9.
Police investigations also found that he had six prior drug-related records and tested positive for drugs during an initial urine screening.
Meanwhile, in two separate Magistrate’s Courts, Shukri was also sentenced to prison and fined after pleading guilty to two charges of abusing drugs.
In the first case, before Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan, he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for testing positive for drugs in April 4, 2019, an offence under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Mason also ordered him to undergo a two-year supervision after serving his term.
In another case before Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan, Shukri was fined RM2,500 in default eight months’ imprisonment for a similar offence committed on September 23, 2011.
He was ordered to undergo three years of supervision after paying the fine or serving his sentence.
The prosecution of both cases was handled by prosecuting officer, Insp. Nur Shafiqa Nyaie Ilin.
