Penang highway shooter charged in three courts

GEORGE TOWN: A 38-year-old bodyguard was charged in three different courts today with the murder of three people, attempted murder of five others and voluntarily causing hurt to another individual.
Ja'afar Halid was first brought to the magistrate's court where he was charged with murdering his employer Datuk Ong Teik Kwong, 32; Choi Hon Ming, 32, and Senthil Murugiah, 38, at the entrance of Penang Bridge off the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu highway.
He is alleged to have shot Ong at the back of his head, Choi on the left side of his chest and right thigh, and Senthil on the left side of his chest with a Glock 19. He is alleged to have committed the offences between 7.15pm and 7.30pm on Dec 1.
Ja'afar, who was clad in orange lock up clothes, nodded when the charges were read to him before magistrate Mohamad Amin Shahul Hamid. However no plea was recorded from the accused.
The charges, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the death sentence on conviction.
DPP Nurul Fatin Husin then applied for the accused to be sent for psychiatric evaluation at Hospital Bahagia, Tanjung Rambutan, Perak. Mohamad Amin allowed the application and fixed Jan 16 for mention.
After that, Ja'afar was taken to the Sessions Court where he was charged with five counts of attempted murder on Muhamad Amirul Amin Mohamad Amer, 28; Nurul Huda Ab Aziz, 38; Arivani Krishnan, 33; Puah Bee Joo, 32; and Lee Hong Boon, 32, with a Glock 19.
He was alleged to have committed the offences at the same place, time and date.
The charges, under Section 307 of the Penal Code, provides for a life imprisonment term on conviction.
Ja'afar nodded and admitted to all the five charges read to him before Judge Irwan Suainbon, who however said the court would not record the accused's pleas until his psychiatric evaluation was concluded.
Irwan ordered the accused to be sent to Hospital Bahagia for one month for evaluation and fixed Jan 16 for mention.
DPP Nurul Huda Idris appeared for the prosecution.
Ja'afar was then taken to another magistrate's court where he was charged with injuring Lim Boon Leng, 32, by hitting him on the head with a Glock 19 at the same place, time and date.
He also admitted to the offence but magistrate Sharifah Izura Syed Mashor said the plea would not be recorded pending the psychiatric report, and fixed Jan 16 for mention.
DPP Nurul Huda appeared for the prosecution while the accused was not represented.