A mechanic has been brought before the Kuching Magistrate’s Court today, charged with the murder of his girlfriend’s three-year-old daughter, who is believed to have been abused to death at a home in Kampung Rampangi on October 7.
The accused, 32-year-old Mohammad Shukri Ryan, was escorted from the lower lock-up around 9 a.m. before the charge was read in front of Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali. No plea was recorded from him.
According to the charge, he is accused of killing the child in Kampung Sungai Engkabang at approximately 7:45 p.m. on October 7. He faces a charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death penalty or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years, and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed.
The court set November 21 for the case to be mentioned again, after Deputy Public Prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng informed that the post-mortem report has yet to be obtained. The accused was not granted bail and his remand was extended.
Earlier, Kuching District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Alexson Naga Chabu, said the police received a report on October 8 regarding the child’s death, which is suspected to be the result of abuse. The suspect was arrested at Kampung Krian, Jalan Padawan, at 11 a.m. on October 9. A urine test revealed he was positive for drugs and he has six prior criminal records related to drug offences.
