Federal Court upholds conviction of three accused for the murder of Sosilawati and three aides

PUTRAJAYA: A former lawyer and two farmhands lost in their final appeal in the murder case of cosmetic millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others at the Federal Court here, today.
However, one accused walked free as his appeal was allowed.
Chief Justice Tun Ariffin Zakaria, who led a panel of five judges, discharged and acquitted R. Matan.
Ariffin said there was insufficient evidence against Matan and that the defence of the three accused had failed to raise raesonable doubt.
N Pathmanabhan, 46, and three others – Matan, 25, Thilaiyalagan, 24, and R Kathavarayan, 36, were sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court on May 23, 2013.
They were found guilty of murdering Sosilawati, 47, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, and Sosilawati's driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44.
They committed the offences at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjong Layang, Tanjung Sepat, Banting, between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010.
Pathmanabhan, Matan, Thilaiyalagan and Kathavarayan failed in their appeal at the Court of Appeal on Dec 4, last year.