Man jailed for death of girlfriend’s lesbian lover

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MIRI: A trader was sentenced to nine years’ jail by the High Court yesterday for causing the death of an Indonesian woman, Ketti Liana Wati, who allegedly had an affair with his girlfriend.The court ordered the jail term to run from the date of his arrest on Sept 4, 2008.

The sentence was ordered by Judge Datuk Zulkifli Bakar after considering the accused’s guilty plea and appeal, facts of the case, seriousness of the offence and public interest.

In passing sentence, Zulkifli said the offence was serious as a life had been taken away.

He said the court took into consideration that there was “grave and sudden provocation”, causing him to “lose his balance” and react by beating and kicking the deceased. Another factor considered was public interest.

Wong Sie Chuan, 28, from Pujut Sesco, a fruit and vegetable trader at Tamu Muhibbah, was charged under Section 304 (a) of the Criminal Procedure Code which carries a 30-year jail term if found guilty.

Based on the facts of the case, on the afternoon of Sept 4, 2008, Wong and his girlfriend Nurasmiza Shari had gone shopping in Miri city, after which they returned to their rented room on the second floor of Lot 963, Wisma Tho Ewe Boon.

Nurasmiza went into the kitchen to cook and after their meal, the accused who was still in the kitchen heard Nurasmiza in the living area talking intimately with someone on her handphone.

The accused seized Nurasmiza’s handphone and read the SMS message with sexual intonation meant for Wati, whom the accused recognised from her handphone number.

Flying into a fury, the accused slapped Nurasmiza, causing the other tenants in the living area to leave the premises as they did not want to be involved.

Wati suddenly turned up at the premises and, on witnessing the heated argument, screamed at Wong to leave the premises but he refused.

Wong then accused Wati of having an affair with Nurasmiza.

Wati admitted the affair and pulled Nurasmiza’s hand while using foul words on Wong who used his bare hands to hit her (Wati) on the head and kick her on the right abdomen, causing her to faint.

Wati was rushed to Miri Hospital by the accused and one of the tenants at the rented premises.

Doctors failed to resuscitate Wati.

A postmortem revealed that the cause of death was hypovolaemic shock caused by a ruptured liver.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Robert Pasang Alam prosecuted.

(Sabah and Sarawak), thesundaypost, Oriental Daily and Utusan Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak).

“I thank The Borneo Post and its sister papers for their effort in seeking clarification with Datuk Seri Nazri on this issue. It is a start to the end of the controversy (which has enveloped the nation in the past few months),” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post.

The Borneo Post also talked to Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom, who described Nazri’s statement as “a piece of wonderful news most welcome by a state famous for its natural friendliness”.

“Peace and harmony — this is how Sarawakians have chosen to live their life, and this will be how they live for a very long time,” said Mawan who is the president Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), another multi-racial party, which like PRS, is a member of the state Barisan Nasional.

Thanking the federal government for its fair understanding of the multiracial and multi-religious set-up in the state, Mawan said: “Muslims and non-Muslims in Sarawak have many common and shared roots that the use of the word ‘Allah’ by Christians here is one of the many things that had never been an issue.

“We, Muslims and non-Muslims, respect each other without having to say it aloud, which is why visiting each other during festivals comes very naturally for us.”

From Assistant Minister of Islamic Affairs Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, he has this to say: “What Nazri said in the interview with the See Hua Group of newspapers is true. It is true that the usage of the term is part of the Christian practices in Sabah and Sarawak.

“It is not that the Muslim community in Sarawak is insensitive (towards their counterparts in West Malaysia) but we see the government as the proper channel to resolve the issue.”

He appealed to Muslims and non-Muslims in West Malaysia to remain calm

and continue to live harmoniously.

Daud, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president, said as far as Sarawakians are concerned, their unity is among the strongest, if not the strongest, in the nation, and that the people treasure this.

Daud, who yesterday also addressed a Muslim function in Kampung Sinar Budi Baru here, also reiterated his call to Muslims and non-Muslims to continue to be role model in the nurturing of friendship and understanding for a stable and progressive state.

“At this moment I do not see any street protest and illegal gathering at places of worship. This goes to show that Sarawakians are a mature lot…sensible,” he said.

National Service Training Council chairman Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe said he hopes all leaders in Sarawak find time to thank the federal government, particularly Nazri.

“I believe all local leaders welcome such statement by Nazri and I hope everyone can see the silver lining in the whole episode,” said Dr Tiki who is SPDP vice president.

On Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Nazri, the minister-in-charge of legal and parliamentary affairs – accepted a courtesy call made by journalists from See Hua Group of newspapers.

They consist of Phyllis Wong, the general operations manager of The Borneo Post, thesundaypost and Utusan Borneo; Francis Chan, the senior editor of thesundaypost; Utusan Borneo Sabah news editor Linchong Angkui; Oriental Daily deputy-editor-in-chief Ding Lee Leong and its news editor Lum Chiih Feng.

Meanwhile, the Anglican Bishop of Sarawak and Brunei Right, Rev Datuk Bolly Lapok, yesterday described Nazri’s statement as an effort to diffuse tension in the country.

Nonetheless, he said, the See Hua Group did not represent the churches as their meeting with Nazri was on their own accord.

“It must be noted that the group of journalists who met Datuk Seri Nazri to record his views was not representing the churches in any way. Our stand on the issue remains,” he said, referring to his previous statement where he said he would like to wait for a court decision over the matter.

Rev Bolly yesterday said: “The recent unprecedented attacks on the churches will leave a regrettable chapter in the history of our young nation. What made it even more deplorable is the fact that hitherto the controversy over the use of the word ‘Allah’ is and never has been an issue in Sabah and Sarawak.

“I commend the part played by the See Hua Group of newspapers when they went all out to meet the minister in charge of legal affairs to resolve the issue for fellow Sabahans and Sarawakians. This can also be seen as efforts to diffuse tension in this region,” he added.