5 freed of youth's murder on Carey Island beach
SHAH ALAM : Five men walked free today after the High Court ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove they had murdered an 18-year-old youth five years ago.
Judicial Commissioner Hazlina Hussain said the prosecution's case, which was primarily based on circumstantial evidence, was marred by significant shortcomings.
She said there was a failure to identify or call material witnesses listed in the investigation papers, including individuals suspected to be involved in the crime.
'The credibility of the key prosecution witness, the deceased's father, was also seriously in doubt,' she said.
Hazlina said the investigation had failed to thoroughly examine all relevant events and parties, rendering the case incomplete and unreliable.
'The prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused. Accordingly, they are acquitted without being called to enter their defence,' she said in her oral ruling this evening.
M Thirumugan, 36, V Vasanthan, 34, G Thurairaju, 34, M Ragu Velan, 54, and M Logeswaran, 31, were jointly charged with the murder of Viknesh Chandra Segar on the Carey Island beach in the Ulu Langat district of Selangor, between 9.15pm on March 15, 2020, and 9.15pm the following day.
Deputy public prosecutor Tengku Intan Suraya Ismail prosecuted.
Lawyers A Komathi, G Maniggandan and KC Kishorthan represented Thirumugan; Jaspal Singh Mann appeared for Vasanthan; and Ryshinah Ramamoothi represented Thurairaju.
Joshua T Sambanthan and Angeline Nga acted for Ragu Velan, while T Selvadorai represented Logeswaran.
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