Kota Kinabalu: The case of a 72-year-old man accused of murdering his former fiancée, whose dismembered body parts were found in a rubbish bin at Taman Indah Permai, Sepanggar, has been transferred to the High Court.
Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus made the order in the case of Piluta Samad (pic) following an application by the prosecution to transfer the case.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ronnie Anthony, in applying for the transfer, informed the court that sanction to transfer the case to the High Court for the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code had been obtained.
Defence counsel Datuk Ram Singh, said the defence had no objection for the application but requested a mention date be fixed in the High Court within a week.
The Magistrate ordered the case to be transferred to the High Court within a week.
Piluta was first charged on Feb 27 to the charge of murdering his former fiancée, one Hamidah Husin @ Lisa on Feb 11, between 6pm and 7pm, at a house in Kampung Sri Kenangan, Jalan Sepanggar, here.
The charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code provides for the death penalty or imprisonment of not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years, and at least 12 strokes of the cane, if not sentenced to death, on conviction.
No plea was recorded from Piluta as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
On April 15, the Magistrate’s Court ordered Piluta to undergo psychiatric observation at Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang following an application by the defence.
On July 23, the prosecution informed the court that a psychiatric report from the hospital confirmed that Piluta was fit to plead and stand trial and did not suffer from any mental illness.
Together with Ram were counsel Joan Goh, Prem Ganasan, Ian Vun and Prabjit Singh Gill.
