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A 23-YEAR-OLD surveyor, Daniel Qayyum Kamalrolzlan, clad in a blue T-shirt, faced the Butterworth Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where he was formally charged with two counts of murder before Magistrate Balqis Roslin. He nodded in acknowledgment as the charges were read separately.
According to the indictment, Daniel is accused of murdering his mother, Hayani Yaakob, aged 51, and his six-year-old adopted sister. The offences are alleged to have occurred at a rented semi-detached house at No 4, Lorong Nakhoda 5, Taman Teluk Air Tawar, Butterworth, at approximately 9.45 a.m. on 10 December.
The charges fall under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which stipulates the death penalty, or alternatively, life imprisonment of up to 40 years with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane if the death sentence is not imposed. The prosecution is led by Police Inspector Nor Idayu Yusoff, and Daniel appeared without legal representation.
No plea was recorded, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court. Inspector Nor Idayu clarified, “No bail has been granted to the accused as this is a matter for which bail cannot be offered.” Magistrate Balqis subsequently ordered that Daniel be remanded without bail and adjourned the case to 29 January for the submission of autopsy and forensic reports.
Daniel had previously been remanded until 25 December to assist police with their investigation.
The fire, which occurred at 9.41 a.m., engulfed the semi-detached house, causing an estimated 85 per cent destruction. Rescue teams managed to save one male occupant in his twenties, who was found injured near the kitchen door at 10.21 a.m. and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Seberang Jaya Hospital.
Tragically, Daniel’s mother and adopted sister were discovered charred beyond recognition in the living room near the main exit at 10.59 a.m. The devastating incident underscores the severity of the blaze and the ongoing investigation into its circumstances.
Authorities are continuing to examine the case to determine the sequence of events that led to the fatal fire, while the court proceedings will assess Daniel Qayyum Kamalrolzlan’s alleged role in the deaths of his family members. - December 26, 2025