BUTTERWORTH: A cowherd appeared calm when he was charged with the murder of a 40-year old woman at a Magistrate Court's here on Tuesday (Sept 7).

       M. Kirubakaran, 29, was charged with murdering Lee Ling Tee between 3am and 4am on Aug 28 at a house Jalan Permatang Ara, Taman Seruling Emas in Sungai Jawi.

       He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which carries the death penalty upon conviction.

       Kirubakaran nodded and said he understood the non-bailable charge before Magistrate Aziana Azib. However, no plea was recorded from the accused.

       He then pleaded guilty to two charges under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for administering two drugs (methamphetamine and amphetamine) into his system on Aug 29 at 1am at the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department in South Seberang Prai.

       Deputy public prosecutor Nurameera Shahrul Azrin said the murder charge was a non-bailable offence and asked for a case mention date pending the victim's pathology and post-mortem reports.

       Aziana said no bail would be offered for the drug charges pending sentencing due to the murder charge, and set Nov 8 for mention of all three cases.

       Kirubakaran was arrested on Aug 29 in connection with the rape and death of a woman at her double-storey house in Taman Seruling Emas on Aug 28.

       He is believed to have gained access into the 40-year-old victim’s house after climbing over the fence and entering through a window.

       South Seberang Prai OCPD Supt Lee Chong Chern was reported as saying the incident occurred at around 3am after the suspect took syabu with a friend and borrowed his motorcycle for a ride.

       “The suspect then rode the motorcycle to the back lane of the victim’s house and broke into her house through a window.

       “He found her asleep in bed and raped her," he said, adding that the victim is believed to have fought back and screamed until the suspect gagged her with her undergarments.

       “After a while the victim did not move and is believed to have died but the suspect continued raping her,” he said.

       Supt Lee said the suspect then dragged the victim's body to the floor and hid it under the bed.

       “After rummaging through her house, the suspect made off with a mobile phone, some cash and the victim’s locket.

       “He left the house at around 2pm and returned the motorcycle to his friend before walking back to his house in Taman Seruling Emas.

       “At around 7pm, the suspect went into hiding at Changkat Sungai Jawi and threw the victim’s belongings into a river in the Changkat area," Supt Lee added.

       He added that the suspect was arrested there and a motorcycle, T-shirt, underwear and a slipper were confiscated.