Two Thai nationals have been charged with the murder of a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officer following a fatal boat collision in the waters off Sungai Padang last week.
The accused, Pradit Rimat, 22, and Rotchahan Tehpuyu, 21, merely nodded after the murder charge was read out before Magistrate Ana Rozana Mohd Nor.
Both men, from Satun Province, were jointly accused of murdering MMEA Able Seaman First Class Mohd Roshaimi Mohd Ridzuan, 41.
The alleged offence took place near the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) jetty in Sungai Padang between 11pm on October 26 and 1.30am on October 27.
They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of up to 40 years and at least 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed.
The prosecution was conducted by MMEA deputy public prosecutors Wirna Arifin and Kamaliza Md Zain. Neither accused was represented by a lawyer.
The court fixed January 5 for the next mention, pending the submission of chemical analysis and post-mortem reports.
Meanwhile, at the Sessions Court, both men pleaded guilty to transporting nine Myanmar migrants who had allegedly been smuggled into the country aboard an unregistered boat.
The charge was read out before Judge Sharifah Norazlita Syed Salim Idid.
The offence was allegedly committed at the mouth of Sungai Padang between 11pm on October 26 and 12.30am on October 27.
They were charged under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM), which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years, a fine of up to RM250,000, or both.
Both accused also pleaded guilty to separate charges under the Immigration Act 1959/63. However, the prosecution requested a new mention date to complete the necessary documents from the Immigration Department.
Separately, seven undocumented Myanmar migrants, including a 22-year-old woman, aged between 22 and 43, were also charged with attempting to enter Malaysia through an unauthorised route under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
On October 27, five MMEA personnel were thrown from their patrol boat after it collided with a concrete block left behind from an old jetty while pursuing a boat suspected of carrying undocumented migrants.
The incident occurred in the waters off Sungai Padang at about 11.30pm and resulted in Mohd Roshaimi’s death after he was believed to have struck the concrete block.
He is survived by his 41-year-old wife, Sajaratul Akmal Abdul Shukor, and their two children, aged 14 and 11.
