Retrial of former tow-truck driver convicted of Ambank Founder's murder to begin on March 16

KUALA LUMPUR: High Court here today set 11 days in March and May to re-hear the case of a former tow truck driver who had been convicted for the murder of Arab-Malaysian Bank (AmBank) founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi.
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Ab Karim Ab Rahman fixed March 16, March 27 to 31 and May 22 to 26 for retrial of the case following a unanimous decision by a five-man bench of the Federal Court on Dec 14 last year in allowing the appeal by Koong Swee Kwan.
In allowing Koong's appeal, the five-man bench chaired by Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin also set aside Koong's conviction and death sentence by the High Court.
The High Court, had on Sept 5, 2014, sentenced Koong to death after finding him guilty of the murder.
Koong was charged with killing 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, 2013.
The Federal Court also allowed Koong's appeal against his conviction and 18 years' jail for attempting to murder Hussain's wife, Cheong Mei Kuen and ordered for a retrial of the case.
At today's proceeding, the court also allowed the prosecution's application for both cases to be heard together as they involved the same witnesses.
The charges were read out to Koong again today and he pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Koong was represented by lawyer Datuk Jagjit Singh Bant Singh and the prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin and Hamdan Hamzah. — Bernama