The case involving Chinese doctor Dr Chia Tong Hong, accused of killing his wife and child last year, has been postponed to April 29 as crucial forensic and autopsy reports have yet to be submitted to the court.
Dr Chia, 34, was brought from the Ulu Choh detention centre to the Johor Bahru courts today. Dressed in a white prison uniform with a shaved head, he was escorted alongside other handcuffed inmates to wait in the Third Magistrate Court before being transferred to separate courtrooms on different floors for his multiple charges.
In the First Magistrate Court, Dr Chia faces a charge under Section 201 of the Penal Code for destroying evidence. In the Second Magistrate Court, he is charged with murdering his child under Section 302 (murder), while in the Third Magistrate Court, he faces charges of murdering his wife under Section 302 and obstructing a public servant under Section 186.
Judges presiding over the respective courts – Magistrate Nabilani, Magistrate Shamini, and Judge Atifah – agreed to postpone proceedings to April 29 to allow time for autopsy, DNA, and other forensic reports to be submitted.
Additionally, as murder cases fall under High Court jurisdiction, Judge Atifah scheduled the trial for September 28, when the case is expected to be transferred to the High Court.
Dr Chia was initially charged on January 16 with four offences: the murders of his wife and four-year-old son, intentionally moving the child’s body to obstruct police duties, and destroying his wife’s false fingernails to eliminate evidence. He pleaded not guilty to the obstruction and evidence-destruction charges. The murder charges, being beyond the Magistrate Court’s jurisdiction, have yet to enter the plea stage. Dr Chia has also changed legal representation, now being represented by lawyer Kamahishan.
According to previous statements, Dr Chia, formerly a private family doctor in Dato’ Ong Town, allegedly killed his 36-year-old wife and four-year-old son on the evening of December 30 last year at their home. If convicted under Section 302 of the Penal Code, he could face the death penalty, or life imprisonment of 30–40 years along with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.
Johor police chief Datuk Rahman previously reported that the victims were found dead at home, with the wife showing marks on her neck and the child with facial bruises, believed to have been suffocated by hand. Preliminary findings indicate the wife died from asphyxiation, while the child was smothered to death, both deaths involving criminal intent.
