Former finalist of MasterChef Malaysia, Etiqah Siti Norashikeen Mohd Sulong, and her ex-husband, Mohammad Ambree Yunos, were sentenced to 34 years in jail for the murder of their domestic helper.
Furthermore, Kota Kinabalu High Court’s Judge Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng also ordered Ambree to be given 12 strokes of the cane. Etiqah, on the other hand, was spared from the caning due to her gender.
Ambree, a contractor, and Etiqah were found guilty of murdering their maid, Nur Afiyah Daeng Damin, 28, between December 8 and 11, 2021, at a condominium in Penampang, Sabah. They were convicted under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment for not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years and, if not sentenced to death, shall be punished with whipping of not less than 12 strokes.
Lim, among others, said the prosecution had succeeded in clearly proving important elements, including that the victim died as a result of the injuries, which were inflicted with intent.
The court also took into account the type of injury and how it was inflicted over a long time.
“The deceased was a young woman who left her hometown to work honestly and earn a living during the global pandemic. While others were sheltering at home for safety, the deceased suffered prolonged suffering at her workplace, which ultimately became the location of her tragic death,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Dacia Jane Romanus.
He added that the accused, as the employer, should have provided shelter, food, and protection. Instead, the deceased was tortured every day, denied basic rights, and ultimately, her life was taken away.
Dacia said the evidence in court showed that the videos and images obtained from the accused’s mobile phone were clear evidence of the torture suffered by the deceased. This evidence not only supported the occurrence of the abuse but also showed the accused’s intention to record and preserve the victim’s suffering.
“This was not a murder out of anger or provocation. This was a prolonged, cruel, and deliberate torture.”
This case was brought to court for the first time on 29 December 2021, and the couple pleaded not guilty and sought trial on 17 November 2022, reported Sabah Media.
