A three-member Court of Appeal bench today upheld the conviction and sentence of a son of a Datuk, who was a car salesman, for the murder of Chee Gaik Yap in Kedah in 2006.

The panel led by Justice Mohd Zawawi Mohd Salleh said the decision was unanimous against the appeal by Shahril Jaffar, and said that it was supported by the evidence on record.

“The High Court judge did not make any error for this court to allow an appeal,” Justice Mohd Zawawi said.

The other judges on the panel were Justices Ahmadi Asnawi and Kamardin Hashim.

Shahril, 35, was represented by Shamsul Sulaiman while DPP Hamdan Hamzah appeared for the prosecution.

On June 25, 2013, Shahril, was acquitted by the High Court in Alor Setar for the murder of Chee in the compound of Kelab Cinta Sayang, Sungai Petani, between 5.30pm on Jan 14, 2006, and 3.05am the following day.

The acquittal prompted a public outcry, particularly within the Chinese community.

An appeal was filed by the AG's Chambers, leading to Shahril being ordered to enter his defence by the Court of Appeal on Oct 13, 2014.

The case went back to the High Court, which convicted him of Chee's murder in August last year.

Shahril, whose businessman father has a ‘Datuk’ title, had fled to Perth in 2006 and obtained Australian permanent resident status.

The accused had left the country on police bail pending a DNA test ordered on him, but was arrested by police at the KL International Airport on arrival from Perth on Jan 17, 2012, after which the trial against him proceeded.

Chee, who died from stab wounds to her neck, was also found to have been raped.