“Since the accused did not accept leniency, the court hereby sentences him to death by hanging,” the judge said.
Tan, who was previously a stockbroker, has been charged with the murder of retired engineer Tan Kim Joo, 73, and his wife, retired teacher Ng Chong Hwa, 67, at their home in Nilai town between 4pm and seven.45pm on July 24, 2019.
He was charged under Article 302 of the Penal Code, which, upon conviction, provides for the death penalty or imprisonment for as much as 40 years and never lower than 12 strokes of the cane.
The accused’s attorney, S. Dynasri, informed the court that his client didn’t need to mitigate the sentence before the decision was announced.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Alauddin Baharom said that while the court had the discretion to send the accused to prison, the one punishment he deserved was death by hanging.
“The accused mercilessly killed the two people who raised him.
“The court should also take into account that this was a premeditated crime committed against members of his own family,” he said.
Alauddin said Tan Kim Joo had 13 injuries to his body, seven of which were stab wounds. His wife had 18 injuries, 11 of which were stab wounds.
“The victims resurrected the accused, but he committed a terrible crime.
“They had puncture wounds to vital organs, including the lungs, kidneys, liver and heart,” he said.
Alauddin said the accused also tried to cover up his crime by attempting to set the home on fire but failed.
According to media reports, firefighters who arrived on the scene after being called to the victims’ home found their bodies with stab and slash wounds in various places in the home.
Alauddin said the accused used his girlfriend’s automobile several times to travel from their home in Kuala Lumpur to Nilai as a part of a plan before he ultimately committed the crime.
Alauddin said the court also needs to take into consideration the recent case of a person who murdered his brother and was sentenced to the gallows despite changes within the law that give courts the discretion to not impose the death penalty.
“This was also a premeditated murder in which the victim was slashed with a knife.
“Therefore, in this case, the public interest must take priority and the only punishment that should be imposed is death by hanging,” he added.
