KENINGAU: A 33-year-old Filipino man was charged in the Keningau Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday with the murder of a Pakistani national last month.
The accused, Sarani bin Arabin, a holder of a Social Welfare Department census card and a resident of Jalan Durok, was charged before Judge Nur Ashikin Mokhtar under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death penalty or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years, with not less than 12 strokes of the cane if death is not imposed.
The case was fixed for mention on Nov 24, pending full forensic and chemistry reports.
Sarani, a father of three and rubber plantation caretaker, was unrepresented, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Esther Cynthia Jebon appeared for the prosecution.
He was arrested following the discovery of the body of Abdul Hafiz, a 30-year-old Pakistani trader, buried near Kampung Kitung, Jalan Keningau, after a police report was lodged by the victim’s friend on Sept 22 that led to the recovery of his belongings and remains two days later.
