JOHOR BAHARU: Two men were charged in the magistrates’ court here — one with murdering a construction company manager and a contractor, the other with abetting their murder in Nusajaya near here in December.
CHARGED FOR MURDER: R Sanderan, 28, (left) and S Karthigageson escorted by the police to court. — Bernama photo
R Sanderan, 28, of Senai, near here, is charged with murdering company manager R Vesvanathan, 43, and contractor M Saravanan, 39, at Jalan Medini/Tebing Runtuh, Nusajaya, at about 3.30pm on Dec 2.
S Karthigageson, 28, from Air Itam, Penang, is charged with abetting Sanderan and another man, K Palpanavan, 56, in the murder of the two men at the same place and time. No pleas were recorded.
Both accused are represented by lawyer G Subramaniam Nair.
Sanderan is charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death sentence while Karthigageson is charged under Section 109, read together with Section 302 of the same Code.
Magistrate Mohd Fuad Abdul Aziz said the case would be transferred to the High Court at a date to be determined later.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Azlina Azamuddin prosecutes.
Meanwhile, in the same court, Sanderan pleaded not guilty to a charge of committing mischief by fire, causing damage to a Toyota Corolla Altis car belonged to Toh Wai Min, 30, from Georgetown, Penang.
He is alleged to have committed the offence at a bush at Km 2, Jalan Gelang Patah – Lima Kedai, Gelang Patah, at 3.40pm on Dec 2.
He is facing up to seven years imprisonment or a fine or both if convicted under Section 435 of the Penal Code.
Mohd Fuad fixed Feb 8 and 9 for the trial. — Bernama