Three men were sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court in Ipoh today after they were found guilty of murdering Ipoh Barat MIC treasurer N Sindambaram four years ago.

Judicial commissioner Teo Say Eng handed down the sentence on salesman A Manimaran, 24; trader S Saravanan, 29, and a security guard, K Perumal, 31.

Manimaran, Saravanan and Perumal are charged with murdering Sindambaram, 68, at house at Jalan Wayang, Buntong in Ipoh at about 11.30pm between Jan 11 and 12, 2009.

The offence, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

Family members were seen crying and hugging the accused after Teo handed down the sentence.

On Nov 29, 2010, the same court had acquitted and discharged them without calling for their defence after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish prima facie in the case.

Following which, the prosecution filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal which then ordered the three accused to enter their defence.

Prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Siti Fatimah Talib.

- Bernama