KUCHING: The High Court here yesterday allowed a lawyer to discharge himself from representing a murder accused he had difficulty communicating with.
Lawyer Wit Malang, representing Lim Kim Chong, told the judicial commissioner Ismail Ibrahim of the language barrier.
Lawyer Lim Lian Kee was thus appointed to represent the accused to defend him in the case.
Kim Chong, 29, a taxi driver from Stutong was one of four men charged with causing the death of Wee Ping Chang, 21, in Kota Samarahan last year.
The other three men are Percy Wong Kiet, 40, from Jalan Mendu, Chin Tze Thing, 40, from Taman Riveria and Ong Kok Wee, 31.
They allegedly committed the offence on the ground floor of a shophouse in Taman Riveria (Phase 3) here between 7pm and 11.50pm on July 27 last year.
All the accused claimed trial to the charge framed against him under Section 302 of the Penal Code which provides for a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
Meanwhile, a man charged with operating an illegal gambling ‘fish machine’ had his case adjourned to May 5 for another mention in the magistrates court here yesterday.
Melronie Anthony who claimed trial to the charge appeared before Magistrate Portia Tham Ong Leng and ordered the prosecution to supply the charge to be written in English.
The 21-year-old allegedly committed the offence when detained at premises at Tabuan Jaya Phase II here around 2.45pm on Feb 21 this year.
He was charged under Section 4(1) of the Common Gaming Act 1953.
Defence counsel Shankar Ram Asnani represented him while Haresh Prakash Somiah prosecuted.