KUCHING: A 26-year-old bouncer at a night spot here was sentenced to death by hanging for killing his employer Neward Sadat two years ago.
SENTENCED TO DEATH: Jee being escorted to the temporary cell at the courthouse.
Jee Chai Foo was also sentenced to a year’s imprisonment for causing grievous hurt to Neward’s son, Felix Neward, 22, in the same incident.
Presiding High Court Judge Datuk Albert Linton ordered the jail term to take effect from the date of his arrest on Jan 14, 2009 but he has been detained in prison for more than a year as the offence is unbailable.
Linton found Jee guilty of both murder and causing grievous hurt.
Jee appeared calm when judgement was delivered but broke into tears when brought out from the court room.
There were no family members in court and it was learned that they were not informed the ruling of the case – supposed to be today – had been brought forward to yesterday. His father was only informed about the judgement after it was passed.
“This is unfair because there is no strong evident to implicate me, I appeal to any lawyer to help me with my appeal case,” Jee told reporters when being ushered back to the temporary cell at the courthouse.
On Jan 4, 2009 at about 2.15am, a fight occurred outside the Barukh Kulo and Pub at Third Mile commercial centre.
Neward, 50, from Padawan tried to avoid the confrontation but was beaten on the head and body with a metal chair, knife and stick. His eldest son Felic Neward, 22, went to his aid but was also hit and stabbed with the metal chair, knife and stick.
Linton said the witness saw Jee hitting the deceased and Felix before he passed out. The accused did not resist arrest on Jan 14.
Both victims were brought to Sarawak General Hospital for treatment and Neward pronounced dead four days later.
Felix was bruised on the head, rib, chest and hands.
The offence was committed at about 2.15am on Jan 4, 2009. A total of eight persons, believed to be Jee’s accomplices, were still at large.
Jee was charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same code which carries the death sentence.
Meanwhile causing grievous hurt using weapon comes under Section 324 of the same code which carries a maximum three years imprisonment, fine or whipping or any two such punishment.
Counsel Jubilant Austinway defended Jee while DPP Iswa Tonie prosecuted.