KUCHING: The Magistrate’s Court here today (Dec 24) set Feb 10, 2025, for the next mention of the case of a man accused of murdering Nurul Ashikin Lan.
Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali fixed the date after Deputy Public Prosecutor Jean Siow Chung Hwei requested more time to obtain DNA and post-mortem reports.
The accused, Zakwan Mokhtar, 23, nodded when the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code was read to him.
No plea was recorded as murder cases fall under the High Court’s jurisdiction.
If found guilty, the accused faces the death penalty or life imprisonment with whipping.
Previous media reports indicated the suspect confessed to murdering the victim to fund his overseas travel plans to watch the Harimau Malaya football team.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said the suspect, who is under remand, admitted to the crime and pawning the victim’s jewellery – a gold bracelet and earrings.
Kuching District Police Chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah confirmed the identity of the body, found in a drain at Jalan Setia Raja last Saturday, as Nurul Ashikin Lan, 28, through a DNA test.
The woman had been reported missing since Dec 5.
