JITRA: Two men have been brought before a Magistrate’s Court here on charges of murdering former Felcra finance officer Sabari Baharom last month.
The accused, Mazuan Hanafi, 38, and Sabari’s nephew Muhd Asyraf Idris, 26, nodded to indicate they understood the charges read against them on Thursday (Oct 17).
However, no plea was recorded from the contractor and the factory worker, as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Both men were jointly accused of murdering Sabari, 62, by causing his death at the bridge of Kampung Empa Sungai Padang Terap, Kubang Pasu on 4 September, at around 5.30am.
They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or a maximum of 40 years’ imprisonment and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.
The prosecution was led by state Prosecution Director Datuk Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim, with Deputy Public Prosecutors Mohamad Rizal Fadzil and Nasruna Anhar Nordien, while the accused were not represented by lawyers.
Magistrate Nurul Huda Idris set Jan 5, 2025, for the next mention of the case.
Previously, media reports stated that Sabari, who lived alone in Kampung Mengkuang Tengah in Kuala Pegang, Baling, went missing on Sept 4.
His car was found burnt in Belantik, Sik on Sept 20.
Police later confirmed that Sabari had been thrown into Sungai Padang Terap near Kampung Empa in Wang Tepus, Jitra, with his hands tied and mouth taped, following the arrest of the two men.
The search operation for Sabari in the river area was conducted over three days and concluded on Oct 3. – Bernama
