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Technician pleads not guilty to charge of killing ex-girlfriend

By SIMON KHOO

TEMERLOH: A 23-year-old technician has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murdering his ex-girlfriend in Mentakab early this month.

Tan Guo Rong claimed trial before High Court Justice Akhtar Tahir after his case was first mentioned in a magistate’s court.

The accused was said to have killed Chua Li Yian, 17, between 6.30pm on May 1 and 3.05am on May 9 along Jalan Industri 2 near U-One Entertainment centre, Mentakab industrial estate.

Tan was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.

Justice Akhtar fixed Sept 1 for re-mentioned after Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Najmi Daud told the court that he needed three months to get the chemist and post-mortem reports.

The judge also told reporters covering the case to store away their notebooks and rely on their memory.

Defence counsel Francis Tan told the court that his client was directed to sign three unknown documents by a senior police officer at a police station between 10am and 11am on May 20.

“I want to put the incident on record as the documents may be used as evidence in court during the trial proper,” he said.

Earlier, while awaiting his case to be heard, Tan was seen talking for about an hour with his mother, breaking down on several occasions.

His mother kept consoling him and wiped away his tears while other family members and relatives were in a sombre mood inside the courtroom.

At the dock later, the accused appeared calm when a court interpreter read out the charge but he kept shaking his head to indicate that he did not understand. After the fourth attempt, Tan pleaded not guilty while stealing glances at his family members.

Outside the courtroom, his counsel said that Tan’s family was firmly behind his client and believed he was not a murderer.

The victim’s father Chua Yunn Jiang, 43, when contacted, said he was surprised that the accused had pleaded not guilty.

“I read in the news that he had admitted to killing my daughter and even took the police to the scene of the crime.

“Why did he change his mind now? I hope justice will be served and for him to get the rightful punishment so that my daughter will not die in vain,” he said, adding that he would be present when the court sits on Sept 1.

The accused was later taken to the Penor Prison.

Scratch marks were apparent on his neck and face. Police sources said the accused had a tendency to inflict injury on himself while under detention.