KOTA TINGGI, Nov 3 — A 35-year-old man was charged at the Pengerang Magistrate’s Court here today with the murder of an elderly settler at Felda Lok Heng Selatan last month.
The accused, Muhammad Iskandar Sentot, nodded to indicate that he understood the charge after it was read out before Magistrate Hidayatul Syuhada Shamsudin.
According to the charge sheet, Muhammad Iskandar allegedly murdered Mohd Ariff Md Yusoff, 68, in front of a house at Block 2, Jalan Bersatu, Felda Lok Heng Selatan, Pengerang, at 7.20pm on October 26.
He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and at least 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed.
The court did not grant bail and set January 7 next year for mention pending the submission of chemical, pathology, DNA, psychiatric and post-mortem reports.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Nursyafiq Abd Halim prosecuted, while the accused was unrepresented.
It was previously reported that a man allegedly went on a rampage at the Felda settlement, hacking a settler to death with an axe before fleeing.
The victim was found covered in blood, with slash wounds to his head and both hands.
Police arrested the suspect at an oil palm plantation the following day and seized a motorcycle and an axe believed to have been used in the attack.
