JOHOR BARU: A 37-year-old ship cleaner was sentenced to death by the High Court for murdering a millionaire businessman whose burnt remains were found in an oil palm estate three years ago.
Judge Datuk Mohd Sofian Abd Razak said the prosecution had proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt against Izwanuddin Kassim for the murder of Yong Boon Cheong, 54, at Jalan Skudai, Danga Bay here between 6am until 7am on July 4, 2014.
Izwanuddin was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
The case made headlines after Yong’s charred remains were found at an oil palm plantation in Batu Pahat about 24 hours after he was reported missing by his wife.
Sofian, in delivering his judgment, said the events leading to the murder began with a fight between Izwanuddin and Yong at the latter’s house in Danga Bay.
Izwanuddin had demanded Yong to pay a sum of money to repair the former’s car, which was involved in an accident with Yong’s vehicle.
“Izwanuddin claimed that the damaged vehicle belonged to a member of the royal family.
“When the victim refused to pay, a fight broke out between the two men, which eventually led to them going to several other locations in their bid to settle the matter,” said Sofian.
After the fight, the two men got into Izwanuddin’s Mitsubishi Evo and went to a place which Izwanuddin claimed was Istana Pasir Pelangi, where they switched to a Jaguar and headed to Restoran Singgah Selalu, the court was told.
It was at the restaurant that Yong tried to run, but was stopped by Izwanuddin, who beat up the victim until he bled on the face.
Sofian said at that juncture, Izwanuddin called his Singaporean friend, Noriskandar Zainal Yahya, to help resolve his problem with Yong.
Noriskandar was initially jointly charged for Yong’s murder, but later pleaded guilty to an amended charge under Section 201 of the Penal Code for helping to dispose of evidence.
The court was told that Noriskandar brought his girlfriend along when he went to meet Izwanuddin at Restoran Singgah Selalu.
They later rode in Noriskandar’s Ford Ranger and dropped off his girlfriend at Sultanah Aminah Hospital before continuing their journey.
The court heard that Yong could have been murdered between the time Noriskandar’s girlfriend was dropped off at the hospital, and the time they continued their journey towards Batu Pahat.
“When accompanying his girlfriend out of the car at the hospital, Noriskandar left the other two men in the car. He claimed that Yong was still alive.
“When Noriskandar returned to the Ford Ranger, he saw Yong lying down while leaning towards Izwanuddin in the back seat. Izwanuddin asked Noriskandar for a piece of cloth to place behind Yong’s head,” Sofian said.
Noriskandar then drove the Ford Ranger to Kulai, before Izwanuddin took over the wheels as Noriskandar slept.
The court heard that when the men arrived at an oil palm plantation in Batu Pahat, Yong’s body was torched by Izwanuddin under a pile of old tyres. The fire was started with petrol bought by Izwanuddin.
Sofian said Yong died due from a stab wound, and that the wound’s pattern was consistent with that of a brass knuckle blade belonging to Izwanuddin.
“The pathologist from Sultanah Aminah Hospital who examined the body concluded that the victim died from a stab wound to the heart before he was set on fire,” Sofian said.
A total 28 witnesses were called during the trial that took more than two years.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Norafiah Saini prosecuted, while Izwanuddin was represented by lawyer Nor Shahid Abd Malik.
Izwanuddin, who is married with two children and worked in Singapore, appeared shocked when the decision was made by the court. He was seen sobbing in the dock before being led out of the court.