Four men were brought before the Magistrates’ Court here today and charged with murdering a businessman whose body was later discovered wrapped in a net and floating in a river earlier this month.
The accused are lorry driver Yogesvaran Subramaniam, 40, lorry attendants Lim Yong Ming, 26, and Achuthan Nagarajan, 32, as well as used-car dealer How Han Wei, 33.
All four men merely nodded after the murder charge was read before Magistrate Mustaqim Sukarno. However, no plea was recorded as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
According to the charge sheet, the four men allegedly acted together to murder Low Kai Xian, 39, between a restaurant in Jalan Emas Putih, Taman Sri Skudai, Johor Bahru, and Sungai Tanjung Sembrong in Parit Raja.
The alleged offence took place between 2.35pm and 12.30pm from July 29 to August 3.
The accused were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which concerns acts carried out with a common intention.
If convicted, the offence carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years. If the death penalty is not imposed, the convicted person is also liable to at least 12 strokes of whipping.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Shahzleen Ibrahim led the prosecution. Yogesvaran, Yong Ming and Han Wei were represented by Datin Fareda Sabapathy, while Sean Dodley Samuel Jayarajan represented Achuthan.
Chuah Shyue Chien and Kenji Soh Xin Da acted as watching brief counsel for the victim’s family.
The four accused arrived at the court complex at around 8.10am, under tight police escort by officers from the Special Investigation/Serious Crimes Division (D9).
The prosecution requested a new mention date while awaiting several investigation reports, including the post-mortem, DNA, closed-circuit television (CCTV) forensic and mobile phone forensic reports.
No bail was offered to the four accused.
The court allowed the prosecution’s request and fixed October 14 for further mention pending completion of the reports.
Kai Xian was previously reported missing by his family on July 29 after they were unable to contact him. His family later found only his multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in Johor Bahru.
Police subsequently received information from a member of the public about a body found at around 12.30pm on August 3.
Investigations found that the victim’s hands and legs had allegedly been tied with adhesive tape, while several injuries were found on his waist and arms.
His body had been wrapped and secured with a net, with five pieces of stone also found inside the net.
Police have yet to establish the motive, although investigators have not ruled out the possibility that the killing was linked to a debt-related dispute.
