KOTA TINGGI: A backhoe driver was charged at the Magistrate Court here yesterday with the murder of his wife earlier this month.
Mohd Hanafi Fatahur Rahim, 43, only nodded when asked if he understood the charge after it was read in front of magistrate Rashidah Baharom. No plea was recorded.
He was accused of killing Noor Hasliza Alias, 38, at a house in Taman Sri Saujana here at 3.30am on March 1.
He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
Rashidah set April 18 for mention of the case and for the submission of the chemistry, forensics and post mortem reports.
In separate proceedings at the Sessions Court here, Hanafi was sentenced to a total of six years in jail after he pleaded guilty to four charges of possession of firearms and bullets.
For the first and second charges, he was accused of possessing a rifle of an unknown brand and model and 14 bullets without a valid licence.
For the third and fourth charges, Hanafi was accused of possessing a Canon Super Model 737 Cal 177 rifle and 50 bullets without a valid licence.
He was accused of committing the offences at two houses in Ladang Pasir Panjang and Taman Sri Saujana between 11.30am and 9pm on March 1.
For all the offences, he was charged under Section 4 of the Firearns Act 1960.
Judge Zahillah Mohammaf Yusoff sentenced Hanafi to five, four, six and five years in jail, respectively, for the offences and ordered the sentences to run concurrently from the date of his arrest in March 1.
For both proceedings, Johor prosecution director Tengku Amir Zaki Tengku Abd Rahman and deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali appeared for the prosecution while the accused was unrepresented.
Before the sentencing, Hanafi appealed to the court for a lighter sentence as he is supporting four children and is paying off a bank loan.
It was reported that the body of the victim was found buried in a plastic barrel near an oil palm plantation in Felda Papan Timur in Bandar Penawar, Kota Tinggi on March 4.
Later, her husband and his 32-year-old friend were arrested.
Johor police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay was reported as saying that jealousy was the motive of the murder as police had found a 'fasakh' (divorce) application letter at the house.
The other suspect was released on a court bond as it is believed that he would be a key witness for the prosecution.