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THE Bukit Mertajam Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday postponed proceedings against the main suspect in the tragic double murder of a woman and her adopted daughter in Kampung Sekolah Juru on 18 October.
Magistrate Nurul Rasyidah Mohd Akit made the decision to allow time for the appointment of an interpreter after the accused, 35-year-old Dinesh Kumar Mandar, failed to understand the charges in Malay.
The court has scheduled the case to be reconvened on 26 November to ensure the interpreter is available.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Zulfadzli Hassan and Anis Suhada Rosli, while the accused is not represented by a lawyer. Bail was denied.
Dinesh Kumar Mandar faces charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years, in addition to a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane if convicted.
Earlier reports indicated that three Nepalese men had been remanded to assist in the investigation.
The victims, 51-year-old Sariya Che Hin and her 11-year-old adopted daughter Nur Afrina Alisha Abdul Rahim, were found dead in their rented home, with the woman discovered in the kitchen and the child on the upper floor.
Following the incident, police briefly detained the victims’ 57-year-old husband before arresting three Nepalese men in connection with the case.
The main suspect was apprehended at an immigration office while attempting to flee the country, while the other two were arrested in Bukit Tengah.
Investigations revealed that the primary motive for the killings stemmed from personal vengeance and jealousy directed at the female victim. - November 4, 2025
