Reprieve for father, son on murder rap over robber's death

Reprieve for father, son on murder rap over robber's death

REMBAU, Malaysia - A Malaysian father and his Singaporean son who were charged over the death of an alleged knife-wielding robber were out on bail yesterday, after their murder charge was reduced to death by negligence.

Bail for part-time cook Moo He Hong, 57, and Moo Wee Keong, 29, was set at RM8,500 each (S$3,000). The duo had spent 23 days in remand.

"All my father and I wanted was to snatch the knife away. We do admit that we beat (him), but it's a robbery so we tried to snatch the knife away," the younger man told reporters, adding that he and his father did not tie up the man.

His mother, Singaporean Kuek Soo Lan, 52, was slashed by a robber on Feb 24 while visiting her husband's family in Negeri Sembilan.

As Madam Kuek was walking to the front of the house they were staying at, she said that the masked man rushed out from the shadows and attempted to grab her bag. Her husband and son managed to pin down the man.

Her husband then drove her to a nearby clinic for treatment without waiting for police to arrive. He returned to the house 15 minutes later to discover that the robber had died.

The case will go to trial on April 30 at the Gemas court.

Their lawyer Gobind Singh Deo said the amended charge of death by negligence, which carries a maximum jail term of two years and a fine is "a far more minor one compared to murder, which carries the death penalty".

THE STRAITS TIMES

 


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