Final suspect in grievous hurt case remanded

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KUCHING: The Sessions Court yesterday ordered the last of three suspects accused of causing grievous hurt to two students to be remanded in prison pending the disposal of the case.

Ramshah is led to the court room.

Judge Amelati Parnel revoked bail for Ramshah Ramlan, 23, originally from Kampung Tabuan Melayu, and reminded him of his right to engage defence counsel for the case in which he will be jointly tried with two other accused persons.

Ramshah, unemployed, was arrested by police on Saturday at a house in Telaga Air, Matang around 5pm after months on the run.

He and his friends Mohd Sukmarulnizam Ademan, 23, from Taman Tabuan Park, and Mohamad Fadilah Ramli, 34, also from Kampung Tabuan Melayu, had initially pleaded guilty to the charges when the case was first mentioned.

However, Sessions Court judge postponed judgement to enable them to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri with their families.

When the Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Richard Malanjum learnt of the case, which was caught on CCTV and had gone viral on social media, he called for the judgement to be expedited.

All three accused failed to turn up after being summoned for sentencing and a High Court then issued warrants of arrest for each of them.

Sukmarulnizam and Fadillah, the second and third accused who were arrested in July and August respectively, changed their minds and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

All three are facing two charges under Section 326 of the Penal Code read with Section 34, which carries up to 20 years in prison, a fine or whipping.

For the first charge, they allegedly caused grievous hurt to Nicholas Gandik Ningkan using a machete, while the second charge is for allegedly causing grievous hurt to Casspetra Bawok Aldrin with the same weapon.

The offences were allegedly committed at Jalan Muara Tabuan around 6.30pm on April 6.

The trial has been fixed for Dec 3-5.

DPP Stella Augustine Druce prosecuted.