TUMPAT: A soldier with the rank of sergeant was charged at a magistrates’ court here yesterday with using an explosive device to murder a school clerk in Chabang Empat near here on Aug 11.
Che Rosli Che Daud, 29, who is attached to the Royal Malay Regiment’s 21st Battalion in Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Baharu, was charged with murdering Sekolah Kebangsaan Manek Urai clerk Mohd Yusrizal Mat Zain, 32, using the device between 10am and 11am on Aug 11 in front of a house at Lot 127, Blok N, Perumahan JPN Kok Seraya, Chabang Empat.
He faces the mandatory death sentence, if convicted.
Che Rosli, who was represented by counsel Datuk Sukri Mohamed, appeared calm when the charge was read out to him before Magistrate Ahmad Adha Amir Yasser Amri.
Ahmad Adha Amir Yasser Amri fixed Oct 1 for mention including for the prosecution to hand over related documents to the defence.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Hamizah Ghazali appeared for the prosecution.
The explosion incident received wide media coverage.
Mohd Yusrizal was reported to have been killed instantly when the device, which was left on a multipurpose vehicle in front the house, exploded when he picked it up. Both his hands were severed in the incident.
Kelantan police had set up a special task force to investigate the incident. — Bernama