Senior citizen claims trial to murdering ex-fiancée

On September 8, a 72-year-old man named Piluta Samad appeared in the Kota Kinabalu High Court, having been deemed mentally fit to stand trial for the murder of his former fiancée. Berita Harian reported that Piluta pleaded not guilty to the charge during a reading by judicial commissioner Dayang Ellyn Narisa Abang Ahmad. Piluta is accused of killing Hamidah Husin @ Lisa, a 44-year-old woman, at their home in Kampung Sri Kenangan, Jalan Sepanggar, on February 11.

The alleged crime is punishable under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which can result in either the death sentence or a sentence of 30 to 40 years in prison. Piluta had initially been charged in the magistrates' court on February 27, but the case was transferred to the High Court following a psychiatric evaluation on July 23 that confirmed he was fit to stand trial.

The prosecution, led by Sabah prosecution director Naziah Mokhtar and deputy public prosecutor Samira Khalili, argued their case, while Piluta was represented by a team of lawyers including Ram Singh, Joan Goh, Ian Vun, Prem Elmer Ganasan, and Prabjit Singh Gill. The court has scheduled October 19 for case management.