ALOR GAJAH: A former teacher was charged with the murder of teacher Istiqomah Ahmad Rozi, who was reported missing in December last year.
Foreign currency trader Mohd Fadzly Ariffadzilah was charged with her murder at the Alor Gajah magistrate's court today.
As soon as the charges were read and explained by an interpreter before magistrate Dr Teoh Shu Yee at 10.45am, the accused, 36, said he understood the charges against him.
No plea was recorded as the murder case is under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
According to the charge sheet, the accused is charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code with the murder of Istiqomah Ahmad Rozi on the side of the road in Kampung Tanjung Rimau Luar, Pulau Sebang here, between Dec 26, 2023 and Dec 31, 2023.
If convicted, the accused can be sentenced to death by hanging or imprisonment of a minimum of 30 years and a maximum of 40 years and not less than 12 strokes of the rotan.
Deputy public prosecutors Muhammad Nazrin Ali Rahim, Muhammad Azfar Mahmod and Sharina Farhana Nor Sa'ari asked the court to set a new mention date to obtain the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) report and post-mortem examination result.
Muhammad Nazrin also objected to any bail given to the accused in accordance with the provisions of Section 388 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Magistrate Dr Teoh then fixed Oct 22 for the mention of the case and did not allow bail.
Earlier, the victim's family members arrived from Kota Masai, Johor, at about 9.45am and some of them were seen entering the courtroom.
Mohd Fadzly arrived at the court at 9.10am handcuffed and dressed in a blue T-shirt and brown shorts, while being closely guarded by police officers.
More than 20 media practitioners filled the court grounds starting as early as 7am.
Istiqomah, a teacher at SK Kota Masai 3, was reported missing after she failed to return home from work on Dec 26, 2023.
Earlier this year, the dismembered body of a woman was discovered in a rubbish bin along the Alor Gajah-Tampin trunk road, near Kampung Rimau, Pulau Sebang on New Year's eve.
Police later confirmed that the dismembered body was that of Istiqomah based on DNA analysis.
The suspect was arrested on Aug 5 in Chemor, Perak.
He was remanded for a week from Aug 6 to 12 before his remand period was extended for another seven days.