Dead suspect among four to be charged over triple murder

A suspect who died in police custody will be charged with the murder of three Sri Lankan nationals in Kuala Lumpur last month.

"We will charge all four suspects, including the one who died.

"It is the same way you would charge someone in absentia," Kuala Lumpur police chief Allaudeen Abdul Majid told Malaysiakini today.

The 43-year-old Sri Lankan national who died on Sept 30 after complaining of chest pains was the father of one of the victims. His wife is among the four to be charged.

The other three suspects are also Sri Lankan nationals.

As for the victims, two of the deceased were identified as tenants at the shophouse in Sentul where the bodies were found in the storeroom with their hands and feet bound and heads covered with plastic bags.

No provision

Lawyer Kitson Foong told Malaysiakini there is no provision in the Criminal Procedure Code to stop public prosecutors from charging a person who is deceased.

"If they were to do so, the charge sheet can state the accused names' as A, B and C (deceased) with the brackets to indicate the person's status.

"Later when the case is mentioned, at some point, the deputy public prosecutor will offer to withdraw the charge or apply for a dismissal and leave the court to acquit the deceased," he explained when contacted for clarification.

Foong said that the trial would then continue to proceed with the suspects who are still alive.

"However, what they normally do as general practice is when a person dies before being charged, prosecutors will not charge the deceased person.

"Their name and role in the alleged crime will be raised at the trial stage in the case against the remaining suspects," he added.

On Oct 2, Allaudeen (above) said eight suspects were arrested in connection with the murder.

He told Malaysiakini today that the others, including a Pakistani national, have since been released.

The police chief also said the case is considered solved and the motive for the murder is believed to be "money issues and debts".

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