IPOH: A 32-year-old lorry driver was charged at the Magistrate’s Court today with the murder of a man last month. The accused, M. I. Saravanan, nodded in understanding as the charge was read before magistrate Mohd Harith Mohd Mazlan.
According to the charge sheet, Saravanan is accused of intentionally committing murder by causing the death of a man named Fendi. The offence was allegedly committed in the lane next to the Grand View Hotel building in Jalan Horley on Aug 27.
The charge falls under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death penalty. If the death penalty is not imposed, the punishment is imprisonment of not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years, along with no fewer than 12 strokes of the cane.
Deputy public prosecutor S. Nishaalini requested the court to set a date for the submission of CCTV forensic, post-mortem, and National Registration Department reports for the case.
Saravanan‘s counsel, S. Vinesh, argued that the case should not be classified as murder but said he respected the deputy public prosecutor and would follow the proceedings. He also requested for the case to be expedited, saying his client is the sole breadwinner and has a six-year-old son.
The court then fixed Nov 4 for mention. The accused was arrested at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan in Kuala Lumpur on the same day as the incident.
The victim, who was fully clothed and unconscious, was discovered by a hotel employee at around 6am. CCTV footage from the area showed the victim being chased by a white lorry at 4.24am.
The video shows the victim being pursued by the lorry before a struggle occurred with the suspect, after which the victim fell in front of the vehicle, was run over, and left at the scene.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
