SHAH ALAM: A prostitute and lorry driver were sentenced to 12 years in prison by the High Court here yesterday after they pleaded guilty to causing the death of another prostitute, four years ago.
Judge Nurchaya Arshad ordered V Mareiyama, 30, and J Sanmugam, 31, to serve their sentences from the dates of their arrest, on July 19 and 20, 2008, respectively.
They were initially charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for the murder of L Kamala, 49, and faced the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
But after the testimonies of seven prosecution witnesses, the prosecution offered them an alternative charge under Section 304 of the Penal Code and the accused changed their plea to guilty.
They committed the offence at a house in Jalan PJS 3/46, Taman Sri Manja, Petaling Jaya, about 4 pm on July 16, 2008.
According to the facts of the case, Mareiyama and Sanmugam went to Kamala’s house with the intention to steal her jewelery, as Mareiyama had previously noticed the victim wearing a lot of jewelery when they were both working in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.
The three of them had food and alcohol which was supplied by Sanmugam but as the victim was leaving her house for work, Sanmugam had strangled the woman with her scarf, from the back, causing her to fall unconscious.
Mareiyama and Sanmugam then ransacked the house, stole the victim’s belongings and fled the scene.
A post mortem of the deceased showed she died of ligature strangulation caused by the scarf tied around her neck.
Mareiyama was represented by Jagdish Kaur and V Rajehgopal appeared for Sanmugam.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Zainal Azwar Kamaruddin prosecuted. — Bernama