English lecturer gets jail for causing death

AMPANG, Malaysia - An English lecturer from Britain was sentenced by the Sessions Court today to a year's jail for causing the death of a cafe owner two years ago.

Judge Chan Jit Li said the court found the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case against 55-year-old Ricos Nicholas Christen.

However, she allowed an application by counsel Ram Karpal Singh for a stay of execution of the sentence pending appeal. She also ordered that the accused's bail be raised from RM15,000 (S$5800) to RM30,000 with two local sureties.

The court convicted him of committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Leong Chin Yap, 49.

The offence was committed outside the Leisure Bay Cafe and Restaurant at No. 78G and 79G, Jalan Pandan Indah 4/6B, Pandan Indah here, around 2am on May 29, 2011. Prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Ummi Aliza Abd Kadir.