Two Thai nationals face death penalty for allegedly killing MMEA officer in Sungai Padang

Kangar, November 5 - Two Thai nationals, Pradit Rimat and Rotchahan Tehpuyu, have been charged at the Magistrate’s Court with the alleged murder of a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officer. The men appeared before Magistrate Ana Rozana Mohd Nor, who read the charge in Thai as the cases are under the High Court's jurisdiction.

Both are accused of murdering Mohd Roshaimi Mohd Ridzuan, a 41-year-old man, near the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority jetty in Sungai Padang between 11 pm on October 26 and 1.30 am on October 27. The charge falls under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which can result in death penalty or imprisonment ranging from 30 to 40 years.

The court denied bail and set a mention date for January 5 next year, pending post-mortem and chemical reports. The MMEA deputy public prosecutors, Wirna Arifin and Kamaliza Md Zain, are handling the prosecution, while the accused remain unrepresented.

Additionally, the two men also faced charges of smuggling nine Myanmar migrants using an unregistered boat. They appeared before the Sessions Court before Judge Sharifah Norazlita Syed Salim Idid. Both pleaded guilty to entering Malaysia through an ungazetted route at the same location and time, a charge under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, with potential penalties of up to five years' imprisonment or a fine of RM250,000.

The court, however, denied bail for the Thai men and the Myanmar nationals, setting a new mention date of December 15 for both the smuggling and immigration cases. The prosecutor, DPP Nur Afiqah Zakaria, requested the same date for the appointment of a Myanmar interpreter.