KUALA LUMPUR: A doctor is staring at a possible death sentence after he was charged at the Selayang magistrate's court yesterday with the murder of his 46-year-old wife in their home last year.

General practitioner Dr Jitweer Singh Ojagar Singh, 54, was charged with the killing of Shento Kaur Jaswant Singh in a house in Bandar Country Homes, Rawang.

The killing occurred between 5am and 8.30am on Oct 22 last year.

Dressed in a faded yellow shirt and trousers, Dr Jitweer, who owns a clinic in Rawang, told the court he understood the charge, but added that he "did not agree" with it.

No plea was recorded.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Nordin Ismail applied to have the case transferred to the Shah Alam High Court and magistrate Rini Triany Muhammad Ali fixed Aug 22 for mention at the High Court.

Dr Jitweer, a practising doctor for the past 20 years, was represented by counsel T.S. Kumari.

On Oct 23 last year, police received a phone call from Dr Jitweer's brother informing them that Shento was found dead in the master bedroom of her home.

Police went to the scene and after finding no signs of foul play, classified the case as sudden death.

The case, however, was reclassified as murder the next day after a post-mortem showed that she had died of suffocation, possibly after being smothered with a pillow.

There were also injuries on her head believed to have been caused by a blunt object.

Dr Jitweer and his driver were were picked up at an apartment in Taman Melati, Wangsa Maju, the following day.

He was released on police bail several days later but was re-arrested on Tuesday.

If convicted under Section 302 of the Penal Code, Dr Jitweer would be sentenced to death.

Meanwhile, in the same court, a 25-year-old Indonesian shop attendant was charged with killing his girlfriend in Selayang Baru, Batu Caves.

Sapri Mad Nor was charged with the murder of Norlela, 27, also from Indonesia, in front of a steel shop between 11.50pm on July 11 and 2.22am the next day.

His case was fixed for mention at the magistrate's court on Aug 22.