BATU PAHAT: The boyfriend of Mila Sharmilah Samsusah, also known as Bella, was charged in the magistrate's court here today with the murder of the woman last month.
The accused, Mohammad Haikal Mahfuz, 24, nodded in understanding as the charge was read in the presence of Magistrate Nur Asidah A Rahman but no plea was recorded.
According to the charge, the former postman was accused of murdering Mila Sharmilah, 32, between Jalan Kelapa Barli, Taman Soga, to Jalan Parit Besar in Kampung Parit Besar and an abandoned house in Lorong Imam Jailani, Tongkang Pechah.
The incident occurred between 11pm and 5am, between Dec 14 and 15.
The accused was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment for a term not less than 30 years or not exceeding 40 years, if not sentenced to death, and caning not less than 12 times
Public Prosecutor Siti Khalijah Khalid conducted the prosecution, while the accused was represented by Syahril Anuar.
No bail was offered and the court set Feb 19 for the next hearing of the case as well as the submission of documents and medical reports.
Earlier, Mohammad Haikal arrived at the court at 8.20am under tight security control by the authorities.
Also seen were the families of both parties waiting at the Batu Pahat Court Complex to hear the charges.
Bella's body was found in an incomplete skeleton in an abandoned rental house last Friday evening after the accused drove to the location.
The discovery of the skeleton unravelled all the mysteries of Bella's disappearance after the victim allegedly went out with the accused on the night of Dec 14.
Yesterday, police confirmed that the remains found in an abandoned rental house in Kampung Batu 7, Tongkang Pechah, belonged to Bella.
Batu Pahat district police chief Assistant Commissioner Ismail Dollah said the results of the DNA test on the remains indicated a match with the samples taken from Bella's mother and sister