Two to hang for killing Sibu senior citizen to get drug money

SIBU: Two men have been sentenced to the gallows by the High Court here on Monday (July 31) for robbing and murdering a senior citizen for money to buy drugs.

Jeeji Ting Kim Leong, 32, and Syahadan Othman Sabang, 29, were convicted under Section 302 of the Penal Code read together with section 34 of the same code.

They had, between 1am and 7.10pm on June 27, 2018 at an unnumbered house in Pulau Kerto, committed murder in furtherance of common intention by causing the death of Ting Poh Sing, 63.

Justice Datuk Christopher Chin Soo Yin said the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the attack on the victim was planned and premeditated.

The victim’s hands and legs were bound and in that forced position, she was strangled to death.

Her death was neither accidental nor caused by negligence, he added.

“There is nothing in my mind to doubt the evidence of the forensic pathologist.

“The two accused are regular drug consumers and had a clear motive to rob the deceased for money to feed their drug habit.

“In fact there was undisputed evidence the upper portion of the deceased’s house was used by the two accused with others as a drug den,” he said.

“In accordance with Section 277 of the Criminal Procedure Code you will be taken to a place and at a time to be determined later where you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead,” he said.

Deputy public prosecutor Mark Kenneth Netto prosecuted. Ting was represented by Yap Hoi Liong and Ben Lau Le Bin while Syahadan was represented by Jacob Wong.