GEORGE TOWN: A 38-year-old bodyguard, who went on a shooting rampage at the Tun Dr Lim Choong Eu Expressway here last December, pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to five counts of attempted murder.
Ja'afar Halid was accused of shooting K. Arivani, 33, in the head; Nurul Huda Ab Aziz, 38, in the shoulder; Lee Hong Boon, 56, in the chest; Mohamad Amirul Amin Mohamed Amer, 28, in the chest; and Puah Bee Joo, 32, in the shoulder with a Glock 19 handgun.
He was accused of committing the crimes at the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway near the Penang Bridge exit between 7.15am and 7.30am on Dec 1, 2016.
On Dec 14 last year, Ja’afar was charged at the Sessions Court under Section 307 of the Penal Code for five counts of attempted murder.
However, Sessions Court judge Irwan Suainbon had then said the court could not record the accused’s guilty plea, pending a psychiatric evaluation of the accused.
He also ordered Ja’afar to undergo psychiatric evaluation at the Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak for one month.
Sessions Judge Roslan Hamid set April 24 for mention and for the accused to appoint a lawyer.
Deputy public prosecutors Nurul Huda Idris dan Lim Saw Sim, appeared for the prosecution.
Meanwhile, Ja'afar, who had also been charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code with the murder of Ong Teik Kwong, 32; Choi Hon Ming, 32; and Senthil Murugiah, 38; as well as Section 324 of the same Act for causing hurt against Lim Boon Leng, 32, was then taken to two different magistrate courts.
Magistrate Mohamad Amin Shahul Hamid and Sharifah Izura Syed Mashor both set April 24 for mention.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Fatin Hussin and Noor Azura Zulkiflee, appeared for prosecution for in the two courts respectively.