MELAKA: Three men were charged at the magistrates' court here on Tuesday with taking matters into their own hands and murdering a 16-year-old suspected thief early this month.
The trio, J. Visvanathan, 32; K. Shanmuganathan, 35; and N. Thiagu, 38, who are all lorry drivers, were present before magistrate Norina Maludin to face the charge.
They were calm and nodded when the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code was read to them in Tamil by the court translator, and nodded when asked if they understood the charge.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Azri Zakaria did not propose bail as the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code is an unbailable offence.
The trio were charged with intending to murder and causing the death of M. Arunasalam at a workshop in the Krubong Industrial Area on Dec 4, 2017, at between 5pm and 8pm.
Visvanathan is the uncle of Arunasalam.
Counsel A. Mathan represented Shanmuganathan, while the other two accused were unrepresented.
On Dec 5, video footage which went viral on social media, showed Arunasalam, who was clad only in a pair of trousers, being beaten by several individuals with a rubber hose and a stick.
The teenager, from Tangkak, Johor, was rushed to the Melaka Hospital on Dec 4, after he was found unconscious at a bus stop – but died about half an hour later despite the efforts of medical personnel.
Old scars and lesions were found on the boy’s arms and back.
Magistrate Norina set the mention date for Jan 17, pending a chemistry report.
If found guilty, the trio faces the mandatory death sentence.