Tow truck driver gets death for murder of Ambank founder

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today sentenced tow truck driver Koong Swee Kwan to death by hanging after finding him guilty of the murder of Arab-Malaysian Bank founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi last year.
Justice Datuk Mohd Azman Husin also sentenced Koong to 18 years jail after finding him guilty of attempting to murder Hussain's wife, Cheong Mei Kuen, 50.
He ordered the sentence to run from the day of Koong's arrest on Sept 23 last year.
Koong was charged with having murdered Hussain, 75, at the car park of the Kuan Yin Chinese Temple at No 4, Lorong Ceylon here between 1.30pm and 2pm on July 29 last year.
He was also charged with attempting to murder Cheong at the same place and time.
Earlier, before the court imposed the sentence on Koong, Cheong said she had been gravely traumatised both emotionally and physically by that most cruel act of crime.
"I suffered severe injuries, loss of capabilities and mobility of movement, second-stage haemorrhagic shock, mental torment, palpitations, weak visibility, slander, libel and false statements made by some irresponsible parties, and an indefinite period of treatment of critical injuries sustained," she said.
Cheong also said that her late husband was a gentle, humble person who was kind at heart just going about with his life, but his life was taken away ruthlessly.
"Hussain Najadi cared for the orphans. One of his small wishes was to set up the Hussain Najadi Foundation for poor children and orphans in poor countries.
"He emphasised that this was only their hope to a better future. Now this wish has been killed," said Cheong, with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin had asked the court to impose the maximum 20-year jail sentence on Koong for the attempt to murder Cheong.
"This case is of public interest. Justice will only be served if the court imposes the maximum sentence on the accused," he said.
Koong's counsel Naizatul Zamrina Karizaman asked the court to impose a lenient sentence, saying it was her client's first offence. – Bernama