2 warga Thai didakwa bunuh anggota Maritim Malaysia

Two Thai nationals, Pradit Rimat and Rotchahan Tehpuyu, were charged in Kangar High Court for allegedly killing a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (Maritim Malaysia) member in the Sungai Padang waters last weekend. The two men, aged 22 and 21 respectively, were summoned to court after the charges were read out to Kangar Magistrate Ana Rozana Mohd Nor.

The duo were accused of jointly attempting to carry out the murder of Roshaimi Ridzuan, 41, near Jeti Fisheries Development Center in Sungai Padang between 11 pm on October 26 and 1:30 am the following morning. They were charged under Section 302 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which carries the death penalty or a maximum of 40 years in prison, with a minimum 12 years if not sentenced to death.

The court has set aside the case for fresh evidence and autopsy reports on January 5. On October 27, five Maritim Malaysia members were ambushed after their patrol boat was fired upon while chasing a suspicious boat carrying unauthorized migrants near the Sungai Padang waters, resulting in the death of Roshaimi who was believed to have been shot.

In the Kangar Sessions Court, Pradit and Rotchahan pleaded guilty to the charge of transporting nine Myanmar nationals illegally using a boat without registration near the Sungai Padang estuary between 11 pm on October 26 and 12:30 am on October 27. They were charged under Section 26J of the Anti-trafficking Act 2007, which can carry a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to RM250,000, or both if found guilty.

They also pleaded guilty to another charge under the Immigration Act 1959/63, but the prosecution sought a new date to complete the necessary documents from the Immigration Department. Meanwhile, seven Myanmar nationals aged between 22 and 43 years, including a woman, appeared in court charged with attempting to enter Malaysia through an unregistered route under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.