KUCHING: A man pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here on Monday (Jan 12) to a charge of attempted murder involving a cemetery worker during a bloody incident at a Chinese cemetery in Kota Sentosa here on Jan 3.
Chang Nyet Nyee, 50, made the plea after the charge under Section 307 of the Penal Code was read before Judge Iris Awen Jon.
He is accused of attempting to kill a 34-year-old male worker at a cemetery on Jalan Lumba Kuda, Kota Sentosa, at about 11.30am on the day of the incident. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
During proceedings, deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Mohamad Aiman Mutallib Mohamad Shariff did not offer bail, citing the serious nature of the offence and the risk of the accused fleeing or repeating the crime.
The court set Feb 12 for the next case management mention.
Separately, Chang also faces a murder charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code in the Magistrates’ Court for the alleged death of a 68-year-old man in the same incident.
No plea was recorded when the charge was read before Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali.
The offence carries the death penalty; if not sentenced to death, a conviction could result in 30 to 40 years’ imprisonment and at least 12 strokes of the cane.
The next mention for this case is set for Feb 19 as the post-mortem report is pending, according to DPP Chuah Kai Sheng.
Earlier, media reported that the body of an elderly cemetery worker was found lying at the Chinese cemetery in Kota Sentosa with visible injuries and later pronounced dead by medical officers. Another victim suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital for treatment.
The investigation is being led by ASP Sylvarius Gopog, with Inspector Elvin Manjan Banta and Sgt-Maj Ridvaner Haddi assisting.
