Latest news with #MohammadAmbreeYunos
Sinar Daily
23-06-2025
- Sinar Daily
'Prolonged campaign of cruelty': Inside the chilling maid murder by MasterChef finalist
SHAH ALAM – What began as the inspiring story of a university graduate from Sabah who once competed on MasterChef Malaysia ended in a horrifying tragedy. A former MasterChef Malaysia finalist, Etiqah Siti Noorashikeen Mohd Sulong and her ex-husband Mohammad Ambree Yunos, have been sentenced to 34 years in prison for the horrific torture and murder of their 28-year-old maid, Nur Afiyah Daeng Damin, in December 2021. Etiqah (left) and her ex-husband, Mohammad Ambree Yunos. The case, described by prosecutors as "a prolonged campaign of cruelty," has sent shockwaves through Malaysia and beyond. A House of Terror in Penampang Between Dec 8 and Dec 11, 2021, what should have been a safe workplace for Afiyah turned into her final days of terror. Employed as a domestic helper in a condominium in Penampang, Sabah, she was systematically abused, tortured and ultimately killed by the very people tasked with providing her shelter and protection. The Kota Kinabalu High Court, presided by Judge Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng, delivered the sentence on the couple in June after concluding that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. While Ambree, 44, received an additional 12 strokes of the cane, Etiqah, 37, was spared whipping under Section 289 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which exempts women from corporal punishment. "This Was Not a Murder of Passion, It Was Deliberate Torture" In court, Deputy Public Prosecutor Dacia Jane Romanus reportedly painted a chilling picture. 'This was not a murder out of anger or provocation. This was a prolonged, cruel and deliberate torture,' she said. According to Dacia, the abuse was not impulsive, but methodically inflicted over time. The couple had subjected Afiyah to such extensive physical torment that her body was unrecognisable. 'The condition of the deceased's body was so severely deteriorated that her husband was only able to identify her by the bangle she wore on her wrist,' she revealed. The evidence was damning. Videos and images recovered from the couple's mobile phones documented the torture in gruesome detail, revealing not only the physical abuse but the chilling intent to preserve it. 'The deceased was a young woman who left her home and entered the home of the accused persons to work honestly and earn a living during a global pandemic. "While others remained at home in search of safety and protection, the deceased experienced the opposite. She endured prolonged suffering in her place of employment, which ultimately became the site of her tragic demise,' Dacia said. A MasterChef Finalist's Fall from Grace Etiqah was just 24 years old when she appeared on MasterChef Malaysia Season 2 in 2012. The show, a local adaptation of the global cooking competition, brought amateur home cooks into the spotlight, many of whom went on to launch careers in Malaysia's vibrant culinary scene. She had been described then as a promising university graduate with a postgraduate degree in geology from Sabah. Her appearance on the show gave her a platform, but what followed was a far cry from public admiration. A Conviction Years in the Making The case was first brought to court on Dec 29, 2021, and the couple claimed trial on Nov 17, 2022. During the proceedings, Judge Lim stated the prosecution had succeeded in establishing all critical elements under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which relates to murder. These included: That the victim died from injuries. That the injuries were inflicted with intent. That both accused acted with common intention. Despite passionate mitigation pleas from their defence lawyers, Datuk Ram Singh (for Ambree) and Datuk Seri Rakhbir Singh (for Etiqah), the court found that the severity and nature of the injuries could not be ignored. The Demand for the Death Penalty Although the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 was already in force, the prosecution had still urged the court to impose the death penalty, citing the cruelty involved. 'This case shocked the conscience not only of Sabahans but the nation as a whole. The law must reflect the value we place on human life and in this case, justice demands nothing less than the ultimate sentence,' Dacia reportedly told the court. However, the judge opted for a custodial sentence of 34 years each, reflecting the current sentencing trends for deaths caused by prolonged abuse, while ordering Ambree to be caned 12 times. A Public Reckoning As the case gained national attention, it triggered intense public outrage. Many questioned how a figure once in the public eye, admired for her passion in the kitchen, could be part of such a monstrous act behind closed doors. The verdict serves as a grim reminder that abuse of domestic workers remains an issue, even among the most seemingly 'respectable' employers. It also underscores the urgent need for better protection and oversight for vulnerable workers in Malaysia. Justice Served But the Scars Remain While justice has now been delivered in the courtroom, the psychological and social scars left by this case are far from healed. Afiyah's tragic end remains a symbol of the invisible violence domestic workers often endure and a call to action for Malaysians to demand better accountability and compassion for all lives, regardless of status or citizenship.
Hype Malaysia
23-06-2025
- Hype Malaysia
Ex-MasterChef M'sia Finalist & Ex-Husband Convicted Of Torture & Murder Of Domestic Helper
Having a domestic helper in the household is both an added help and an extra responsibility, as they take care of the household, while employers share the same responsibility to provide them with an adequate living environment. Under no circumstances do domestic helpers fall beneath any requirement to have their basic needs met while in service, especially when most cases require them to be living-in with the family. Former MasterChef Malaysia finalist Etiqah Siti Noorashikeen Mohd Sulong and her now ex-husband, Mohammad Ambree Yunos, have been sentenced to 34 years in prison, after having been found guilty by the Kota Kinabalu High Court for the torture and murder of their domestic helper in 2021. Yunos was sentenced to an extra 12 strokes of the cane, while Sulang was exempted due to her gender under Section 289 of the Criminal Procedure Code. According to reports by Sabah Media, Judge Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng states that the prosecution had proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt as the 28-year-old victim, Nur Afiyah Daeng Damin, was proven to have died due to injuries sustained from the continuous torture by the couple. The pair had also acted with common intent, as photos and videos from the accused's mobile phones depict clear evidence to record and preserve the victim's suffering. Deputy Prosecutor Raya Dacia Jane Romanus said, 'This was not a murder resulting from anger or provocation. This was a cruel and deliberate, prolonged beating. The injuries suffered by the deceased did not occur all at once, but in a series of continuous torture, which clearly shows the defendant's intention to cause death'. He added that an employer should uphold the responsibility to provide shelter, food and protection. In this case, the victim was denied any basic human rights and was tortured every day, which led to her death. Despite having sought the mandatory death penalty, the judge decided on the minimum sentence allowed under Section 302 of the Penal Code. Sources: Sabah Media, The Star Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article. What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
The Star
20-06-2025
- The Star
MasterChef finalist, ex-husband jailed 34 years for maid's murder
KOTA KINABALU: A former MasterChef Malaysia finalist and her ex-husband have been sentenced to 34 years in prison each for the 2021 murder of their Indonesian domestic worker at a condominium in Penampang. The High Court found Etiqah Siti Noorashikeen Sulang, 37, and contractor Mohammad Ambree Yunos, 44, guilty of killing 28-year-old Nur Afiyah Daeng Damin between Dec 8 and 11, 2021, at their Amber Tower residence. Justice Lim Hock Leng ordered the jail terms to commence immediately. Ambree was also sentenced to 12 strokes of the cane, while Etiqah was exempted due to her gender. The court ruled that the pair had acted with a common intention, with evidence showing the victim had suffered fatal injuries deliberately inflicted by both accused. "The defence failed to raise reasonable doubt," Lim said in his judgment, adding that the prosecution had successfully proven that the victim's injuries were intentional and jointly caused. The two were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years and not less than 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction. Deputy Public Prosecutor Dacia Jane Romanus had urged the court to impose the maximum sentence, saying the brutality of the case had shocked the nation. "The deceased was a young woman who left her hometown for honest work amid the pandemic, but ended up losing her life at her workplace," Dacia said. She also told the court that the maid suffered daily abuse and was denied her basic rights, including unpaid wages and the ability to return home.
Malay Mail
20-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Contractor and ex-wife sentenced to 34 years for killing domestic helper in Penampang, cruelty revealed in court
KOTA KINABALU, June 20 — A contractor and his former wife were each sentenced to 34 years in prison by the High Court here on Friday after being found guilty of murdering their domestic helper in December 2021. Judge Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng delivered the verdict against Mohammad Ambree Yunos @ Unos, 44, and Etiqah Siti Noorashikeen Mohd Sulong, 37, who were convicted of the murder of 28-year-old Nur Afiyah Daeng Damin. The offence took place over several days, between December 8 and 11, 2021, in a condominium unit at Amber Tower, Lido Avenue in Penampang, near here. Ambree was also sentenced to receive 12 strokes of the cane, while Etiqah, an engineer with Petronas and a former Masterchef Malaysia finalist, was spared caning due to her gender provisions. In the judgement, the judge said that the prosecution proved that the couple had acted with intent in causing the injuries and that the deceased succumbed to the injuries. He also noted that the ex-spouses had tried to blame each other for the death during the course of the trial. In passing judgement, Lim said that although both lawyers had put up impassioned mitigation pleas, he could not ignore the cruelty suffered by the deceased at the hands of the accused, as highlighted by the prosecution. 'The court considered the nature of the injuries and the manner in which they were inflicted over time,' he said. Both had been out on bail throughout the trial but were ordered to begin serving their sentences immediately upon conviction. During the trial, it was revealed that the victim had been subjected to prolonged abuse, resulting in fatal injuries, with evidence of trauma to her face and deputy public prosecutor Dacia Jane Romanus urged the court to impose the death sentence. She argued that the case had shocked not only the conscience of Sabahans, but of the nation as a whole, and for that reason, must be met with the full weight of the law. She said that the victim had sought honest work with the couple during the pandemic but was instead subjected to daily torment, denied basic rights, and robbed of her life. Dacia said evidence before the court, including videos and images recovered from the accused's phones, stood as disturbing documentation of the deceased's torment. 'This evidence not only corroborated the abuse but also revealed the accused persons' chilling intent to record and preserve her suffering. 'We wish to remind the court that in this case, the condition of the deceased's body was so severely deteriorated that her husband was only able to identify her by the bangle she wore on her wrist, a silent witness to the life she once lived and the violence she endured,' she said. The couple were jointly charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, read together with Section 34, which deals with common intention. The charge carries a prison term ranging from 30 to 40 years and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane. Datuk Ram Singh represented Ambree while Datuk Rakhbir Singh represented Etiqah.
