Cops reclassify guard's assault case as murder, propose heavier charge

Police have reclassified the assault case of a security guard as murder, following his death on Aug 27.

Perak police chief Mior Faridalathrash said yesterday they have also referred the case to the prosecution for review with proposals of a more severe charge against the suspect.

The suspect was previously charged with causing grievous hurt and is out on bail.

"Police have reclassified the case as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code on the day the victim passed away.

"The offence carries the death penalty. The case is awaiting further instruction from the prosecution," he said in a statement.

Noor Azhar Muhmmad was in January charged under Section 335 of the Penal Code for causing grievous hurt which carries a punishment of up to seven years in prison and a fine.

Noor Azhar had on Dec 29 last year assaulted 64-year-old Thava Sagayam (above) who served as a security guard at a condominium in Ipoh, Perak.

The accused attacked Thava, including hitting him with a table, after he refused to allow the former's child from using the swimming pool which was closed at the time.

The attack left Thava unconscious. He died eight months later.

A post-mortem showed he died from a lung infection, but his family maintained that his health deteriorated over the months as a result of the attack.

In the aftermath of Thava's death, Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran had led the call for his attacker to be charged with murder.

Thava's family had also uploaded a video of the incident where Thava was violently assaulted. It was also shared by Klang MP Charles Santiago on his Facebook.

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