Two men charged with businessman's murder

KLUANG: Two men were charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with the murder of a businessman last month.

Tan Kim Poh, 33, and Ong Wai Cheong, 34, nodded after the charge was read out to them before Magistrate Muhamad Hidayat Wahab, but no plea was recorded.

The two men, together with another person still at large and five others, were charged with murdering Koh Peng Huat, 61, in an oil palm plantation in Jalan Kahang Timur, Kampung Gajah here, between 5.30pm and 7pm last July 31.

The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code and read together with Section 34 of the same law, carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

Tan and Ong also faced another charge with voluntarily causing hurt on a woman, an offence under Section 324 of the Penal Code.

The two of them, with another person still at large and one who had been charged, are charged with committing the offence on Ong Choon Ngoh, 50, at the same place, time and date.

They face an imprisonment for up to three years, or fine, or whipping, or any two of the punishments, if found guilty.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Natalie Chew, while Tan and Ong were represented by lawyers Sia Chau Eng and Abraham Mathew, respectively.

The court set Sept 14 for mention for both cases. — Bernama