SHAH ALAM: A suspect stood emotionless as he was charged at the magistrate's court today with the murder of his Thai girlfriend, whom he allegedly pushed to death from a condominium in Setia Alam last month.
At the onset of the proceedings, Nathan Vijayakumar,37, shook his head repeatedly when he was asked by the court interpreter to read aloud his MyKad number and to confirm if it was his.
The lorry driver looked blankly when the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder was read out to him before magistrate Sasha Diana Sabtu.
He nodded to indicate that he understood the charge and later, looked restless as he slouched against the court bench.
No plea was recorded as murder cases are under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
The charge sheet read that he had allegedly caused the death of Mawika Lumyai,32, at Trefoil@Setia City, Jalan Setia Dagang in Section U13.
He committed the offence at about 10.03pm on Feb 28.
He faces jail not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years. If the death sentence is not meted out, he will be caned not less than 12 times.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Farah Sofea Norazman did not offer any bail.
Nathan was represented by counsel T.P Aravind Raj.
The court set June 7 for mention.
Previously, Shah Alam police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim said witnesses heard the couple arguing and the deceased being pushed from the 23rd floor and landed on the seventh floor.
He said the suspect, who has seven criminal records and one drug record, tested positive for cannabis.