Two friends acquitted of murdering Filipino man

SHAH ALAM: This Ramadan and Aidifitri will be a most memorable one for two friends after they were discharged and acquitted of murdering a Filipino man by the High Court here without having to call for their defence.
Judge Datuk Ghazali Cha decided to discharge Saffry Affendy, 41, and Mukhlis Bakar, 44, after he was satisfied that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case.
Ex-policeman Saffry and contract labourer Mukhlis, were represented by counsel Mohd Fadhly Yaacob, while the prosecution was conducted by Mahathir Mohd Khairudin.
In his judgement, Justice Ghazali among others touched on doubts on the identify of the dead victim when there were two identities involving the same body.
Based on the statements of one of the witnesses, one of the identities belongs to a man with mental disorder who is still alive in Sabah and the matter was confirmed by the investigation officer who took the statement of the individual's younger brother.
Apart from that, the court also found the failure of several material witnesses, such as the younger brother of the individual who was said to have the same identity with the deceased, also affected the prosecution's case.
A total of 14 prosecution witnesses were called to testify in the trial which began last year.
Saffry and Mukhlis were jointly charged with the murder of Hakim Asamad at Lot 1354, Off Jalan Sungai Jati, Jalan Kampung Jawa, Klang, at about 12.30am on Aug 25, 2014.
The body of the victim, which was slashed on the neck, was found in a rubbish dump in Klang.
The two friends were arrested on Sept 10, 2014 and were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which was read together with Section 34 of the same code which provides for the death penalty if found guilty. — Bernama