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MALAYSIA: FEDERAL COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE OF EX-TOW TRUCK DRIVER FOR MURDER OF AMBANK FOUNDER
March 1, 2021: The Federal Court in Putrajaya on 1 March 2021 upheld the conviction and death sentence of a former tow truck driver for the murder of Arab-Malaysian Bank (AmBank) founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi in 2013.
A three-member bench led by Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Rohana Yusuf also affirmed the 18-year jail term on Koong Swee Kwan for attempting to murder Najadi’s wife Cheong Mei Kuen.
The bench, which also comprised of Federal Court judges Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli and Datuk Seri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, dismissed Koong’s final appeal against his conviction and sentence.
Justice Rohana that evidence against Koong was overwhelming.
Koong’s lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said his client last recourse is to appeal for clemency to the Pardons’ Board.
He had submitted in the appeal that his client’s defence was not fairly and justly assessed by the trial judge as required by the law.
Koong, 52, known as Sei Ngan Chai (bespectacled) was sentenced to death on 27 October 2017, for killing Najadi, 75, after a retrial of his case. He was also sentenced to 18 years in jail for attempting to murder Cheong.
The man was charged with committing the offences in the parking lot of the Kuan Yin Temple in Lorong Ceylon between 1.30 pm and 2 pm on 29 July 2013. (Sources: Malay Mail, 01/03/2021)
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