Cleaner Faces Murder Charge Over Fatal Robbery of Elderly Man in Manjung

MANJUNG: A 27-year-old cleaner has been charged with the murder of an 85-year-old man during a robbery at a house in Ayer Tawar last week.

M. Manimaran appeared before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where the charge was read before Magistrate Asma’ Nahdiyya Che Ab Rahim.

The accused nodded in understanding after the charge was explained, but no plea was recorded, as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The court fixed Aug 20 for a mention of the case while awaiting post-mortem reports.

According to the charge, Manimaran allegedly caused the death of Tang Kai Kong at a residence along Jalan Melayu, Ayer Tawar, between 3am and 4am last Thursday.

The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of up to 40 years and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction if the death sentence is not imposed.

In the same court proceedings, the accused also pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of consuming methamphetamine at the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division office at the Manjung District Police Headquarters at about 12.30pm last Friday.

Represented by National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Nur Aini Osman, Manimaran was charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

If convicted on the drug charge, he could face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to RM5,000.