KUALA LUMPUR: For Datin Erni Dekritawati Yuliana Buhari, the trauma and pain of losing her mother Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya, who was brutally murdered 14 years ago, still lingers to this day.
However, the Federal Court's decision to uphold the death sentence on her mother's killers has brought some solace to the family.
Erni Dekritawati, 39, said the verdict has brought justice to the victims and is a crucial reminder to society to respect the law.
"Alhamdulillah, I am grateful to Allah SWT. My family and I respect and accept the court's decision with open hearts.
"The ruling provides justice for us and the families of the other victims.
"It also serves as a reminder to society that our actions must never go beyond the sovereignty of the law," she told the New Straits Times.
Erni Dekritawati, who was 25 when her mother was killed, said 14 years have passed since then but it hasn't lessened the pain.
"(It was) 14 years ago. The trauma and pain has never dwindled. But life must go on," she said.
The Federal Court today rejected the appeal of former lawyer Datuk N. Pathmanaban and one of his farmhands in their attempt to overturn their death penalty for the murder of Sosilawati and her three aides - bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, and driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin.
In a unanimous decision, a three-member Federal Court bench led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat upheld the death sentence for the appellants.
Pathmanaban, 55, and T. Thilaiyalagan, 33, had filed an application to review their death sentence to be commuted to imprisonment following the Mandatory Death Penalty Abolition Act 2023, which took effect on July 4, last year.
On March 16, 2017, the Federal Court affirmed the convictions and death sentences of the duo and R. Kathavarayan for the murders.
The apex court, however, acquitted the fourth accused, R. Matan, citing that both the High Court and Court of Appeal had erred in convicting him and affirming his conviction and death sentence.
Kathavarayan did not file an appeal to review his death sentence.
It was reported that Sosilawati and her aides went missing after going to Banting for a business deal.
The four appellants were arrested and charged in 2011.
They were accused of committing the murders at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjung Layang, Tanjung Sepat in Banting, between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.
They were sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court on May 25, 2013, following their conviction for the murders.