Couple to hang for 2020 Sibu suitcase murder

SIBU: A married couple has been sentenced to death by the High Court here on Monday (July 31) for the murder of a woman three years ago.

Justice Datuk Christopher Chin Soo Yin said in imposing the sentence that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Seow Pei Chee of Subang Jaya and her husband Cheung Chia Ming of Kuala Lumpur, both 41.

He said there was common intention by the accused in committing the offence as the victim was unable to earn enough for the two, who were moneylenders.

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“You have been found guilty of murder. The facts of this case shock me and will shock anyone in civil society.

“You have subjected the victim and her teenage daughter to years of torture, fear and physical abuse.

“You lived on her earnings as a prostitute and when she did not earn enough, you became violent towards her.

“You were also prepared to prostitute the daughter of the deceased for your own gain as moneylenders,” Justice Chin said.

He added that based on the nature of the case, he had no alternative but to impose the death sentence on the accused in accordance with amended Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

The victim succumbed to serious head and bodily injuries inflicted by both accused.

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They were jointly charged with killing Heng Heow Lin, 38, between 10pm on Oct 4 and 6am on Oct 6, 2020 at a house in Jalan Tong Sang and later disposing of the body in Jalan Aman.

The Perak woman’s body, which was stuffed in a suitcase, was found by a passerby at about 6.30am on Oct 6, 2020.

Seow and Cheung were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Code, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.

Seow was represented by counsel Yap Hoi Liong while Cheung’s lawyer was Jacob Wong.

Deputy public prosecutor Mark Kenneth Netto prosecuted the case.