A father’s attempt to obtain a burial permit for his 16-year-old daughter led to the shocking discovery that the teenager had been raped and murdered by her own brother-in-law in a case that has horrified the nation.
The disturbing details were revealed in the grounds of judgment issued by the Kota Bharu High Court, which dismissed an appeal by Amir Sharif Muhamad against his sentence of 32 years’ imprisonment and 22 strokes of the cane for the rape and murder of Nurshazreen Balqis.
Judicial Commissioner Azhar Mokhtar ruled that the sentence was appropriate given the seriousness of the crimes and refused to reduce the punishment.
According to the court, the victim’s father, Albadri Mat, went to Meranti police station on October 29, 2021, to report his daughter’s death and apply for a burial permit, believing she had died from complications linked to a COVID-19 vaccination.
However, because the victim was underage, police advised the family to seek confirmation of the cause of death at Hospital Pasir Mas.
A post-mortem examination conducted the following day uncovered evidence of foul play. A forensic pathologist from Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II concluded that the teenager had died from asphyxia after her mouth and nose were covered.
The examination also revealed injuries to her face and neck, as well as fresh tears to her genital area, indicating sexual assault.
The findings immediately triggered a criminal investigation that led to the arrest of Amir Sharif the following day at a guard post near Pasir Mas.
Investigators discovered scratch marks on the accused’s body, consistent with injuries sustained during a struggle.
The court heard that on the day of the incident, the victim’s parents had left their home in Kampung Bunut Susu, leaving Nurshazreen alone with Amir Sharif.
When her mother returned later that day, the accused was no longer at the house.
Strong forensic evidence ultimately linked Amir Sharif to the crimes.
DNA analysis detected his semen and blood on multiple items, including the victim’s clothing, bedsheets, mattress, pillow and blanket.
His DNA was also found beneath the victim’s fingernails, further supporting investigators’ conclusion that the teenager had fought back before her death.
On April 14 this year, Amir Sharif pleaded guilty to charges of murder and rape under Sections 302 and 376(4) of the Penal Code.
The court sentenced him to 32 years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane for murder, along with 15 years’ imprisonment and 10 strokes of the cane for rape. Both prison terms were ordered to run concurrently from the date of his arrest.
Despite his guilty plea, Amir Sharif later appealed against the sentence, arguing that it was too harsh.
However, the High Court ruled that the punishment was only slightly above the statutory minimum sentence and far below the maximum penalty allowed by law.
In his judgment, Azhar stressed that the victim was a vulnerable teenager and that the accused had betrayed the trust placed in him as a family member.
“He should have been the person responsible for protecting and caring for the victim,” the judge said.
“Instead, he committed the ultimate betrayal against a member of his own family.”
The court also noted that the victim likely endured fear, panic and suffering before her death, as suffocation is not an instantaneous process.
While the judge acknowledged the accused’s guilty plea and lack of previous convictions, he ruled that these factors were outweighed by the brutality of the offences, the victim’s age, the betrayal of trust and the overwhelming forensic evidence presented.
