TAWAU: An ex-wife of an e-hailing driver found murdered on Jalan Anjur Juara Batu 5 Jalan Apas near here last year, was charged for murder at the magistrate's court here today (April 26).
Nurima Juli, 35, along with a stepbrother, Sadam Kiram, 30, were charged with jointly intending to murder Nurman Bakaratu, 61.
Both of them committed the act in an oil palm plantation in Jalan Anjur Juara, Batu 5 Jalan Apas, near here, between 7.30pm and 11.30pm on Jan 13, 2023.
For this offence, they could face the death penalty or imprisonment ranging from 30 to 40 years, and if not sentenced to death, they shall be liable to a minimum of 12 strokes of the rotan , upon conviction.
Both accused nodded in understanding as the charges were read by an court translator before Magistrate Dayang Aidaku Amira Aminuddin.
No plea was recorded as murder is under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohammad Fakrurrazi Ahmad Salim prosecuted, while both accused were unrepresented.
Earlier, Fakrurrazi requested for charges under Section 201 of the Penal Code against Sadam, which were heard in the same court before this, to be dropped following new charges against him today.
In today's proceedings, Fakrurrazi also did not offer any bail for both accused and requested a new date for re-mention before the case is transferred to the High Court.
The court later allowed the charges faced by Sadam to be dropped before setting June 6 for mention. Both accused will be detained at Tawau Prison.
Sadam was previously brought to the same court on Aug 24 last year on charges related to disposing of evidence involving the discovery of the body of a man, Nurman Bakaratu, 61, the e-hailing driver murdered on Jan 13, 2023.
He was accused of disposing of evidence, namely a pair of scissors and Nurman's wallet, at Sungai Kinabutan Besar bridge in Jalan Apas, near here, between 7.30pm and 11.30 pm on the same day.
Nurima, who was previously charged in the same court on Jan 30 last year under Section 302 before being made a prosecution witness.
She was also the main prosecution witness in the high-profile murder trial involving senior police officers including former Chief of Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) Intelligence Staff Datuk Mat Zaki Md Zain and seven others for conspiring and murdering Nurman.
However, High Court Judge Duncan Sikodol acquitted and discharged all eight of them.
This followed Deputy Public Prosecutor Khairul Azreem Mamat's request for the prosecution not to continue with the trial against all the accused following Nurima's sudden admission to killing Nurman, her former husband.