Pakistani charged with Norikoh’s death to stand trial on Feb 7-8

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KOTA KINABALU: A Pakistani man who was charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder of a 16-year-old girl whose body was found by the roadside in Kota Marudu, will stand trial on February 7–8 this year.

Judge Duncan Sikodol maintained the hearing date of Amir Ali Khan Nawatay, 40, when the case came up for case management yesterday.

Deputy public prosecutor Monica Linsua told the court that the prosecution would produce 15–20 witnesses to testify against Amir Ali, who was defended by counsel Rakhbir Singh.

The accused, who hails from Bunor, Pakistan, was alleged to have committed the offence inside a moving lorry along Jalan Km 2.8 Langkon from Kota Marudu between 11am and 12.30pm on November 25.

Amir Ali, who earns a living as a trader, was charged under Section 304 (b) of the Penal Code which describes that if the act is done with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death, but without any intention to cause death, or to cause such bodily injury as is likely to cause death. The offence carries a maximum jail of 10 years or a fine, or both, if convicted.

Amir Ali was ordered to be remanded further in custody under Section 259 of the Criminal Procedure Code, pending disposal of his case.

The accused was first arrested by the police on Nov 26 in connection with the death of the girl whose body was found with head injuries by the side of the road leading to Kampung Ranau.

The death of the girl who came from Kota Marudu had sparked huge interest as well as speculations from the public, bloggers and politicians. Several social network sites and blogs on the internet claimed that the victim was gang-raped by five men before killing and dumping her body by the roadside.

This case was first brought to the court on December 18 this year. Counsel Peter Marajin held a watching brief for the victim’s family.