KUALA TERENGGANU: A trader pleaded not guilty in the High Court today to murdering her business partner, an elderly woman, in November last year.
Nooraini Remali, 36, entered the plea and claimed trial after the charge was read before Judge Datuk Hassan Abdul Ghani.
She is accused of murdering Norzihan Abd Karim, 65, on Nov 1, 2023, in front of the Telekom Malaysia guard post at Batu 23 Kuala Berang, Hulu Terengganu, between 3.20am and 4.00am.
Nooraini has been charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment for 30 to 40 years.
If not sentenced to death, she faces no fewer than 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
The court set Nov 17 for case mention after her not-guilty plea was recorded.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Khairuddin Idris is leading the prosecution, while Nooraini is represented by Che Mohd Azmi Che Hamat.
Earlier reports revealed that a female trader was found dead with 15 stab wounds near the Hulu Terengganu Islamic Office in Kuala Berang.
A security guard discovered the body in a drain at 4.35am.
The victim is believed to have been run over by the suspect before being stabbed.