By CHRISTINA TAN

KLANG, MALAYSIA - A trader was charged at a magistrate's court here with the murder of Indonesian maid Muntik Bani, who died after being allegedly abused.

A. Murugan, 35, was alleged to have committed the offence between Oct 18 and 20 at No 11, Jalan Dato Yusof Shahbudin 6, Taman Sentosa here.

Clad in a T-shirt and jeans, Murugan was produced at the court at about 3pm. He remained calm when the charge was read to him in Tamil. No plea was recorded.

He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code. If convicted, he faces the mandatory death sentence.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Manoj Kurup applied for an early mention date and for the case to be transferred to the Shah Alam High Court.

Magistrate Afifah Mamat @ Yusof allowed the case to be transferred and set Nov 3 for mention in the High Court.

Muntik, 36, died in the intensive care unit of the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital at 10am on Monday, about a week after being rescued from the house.

She had a wound on her leg, and bruises on her arms and face.

Police rescued her from a toilet in the house after a tip-off. She succumbed to her injuries despite being treated by specialists.

Murugan surrendered himself to the police on the second day Muntik was rescued, and was supposed to be remanded till Nov 4.

His 29-year-old wife, who was detained last Tuesday, will be remanded till Nov 3, while the remand on his 56-year-old mother, which ended yesterday, has been extended to Monday.