Court Told Neighbour Saw Accused Shaving Maid's Hair
SHAH ALAM, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- A witness told the High Court here Friday that she saw A. Murugan, the accused in the murder trial of Indonesian maid Muntik Bani, shaving the victim's hair at the front door of his house in September last year.Tan Siew Choo, 37, whose house is opposite Murugan's house, said she also saw the accused scolding the maid as well as kicked her leg twice."The maid screamed in pain and the accused was in anger when he kicked her," she said when examined by deputy public prosecutor Idham Abd.Ghani.Murugan, 35, a sugar cane juice seller, is charged with committing the offence at house No. 11, Jalan Datuk Yusof Shahbudin 6, Taman Sentosa, Klang between Oct 18 and Oct 20 last year.He has been charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.Muntik, 40, who hailed from Surabaya, died at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang on Oct 26 last year.Tan, who is the 30th witness, said when she first saw Muntik last September, the maid looked good physically, but seemed weak and with bruises when she saw her for the last time, which was a week before Deepavali in October last year.Earlier, 29th witness, V.Rajendran, 47, a neighbour of Muntik's former employer, Puah Hooi Sueew, said he did not hear any scream when Muntik was working with Puah.He said the last time he saw Muntik at Puah's house was between Aug 15 and 16 last year and that the maid looked healthy and had a shoulder length hair.Rajendran disagreed with lawyer V.Rajehgopal, who represented Murugan, that he often went near Puah's house to talk to Muntik and that his wife knew about his relationship with Muntik.He also disagreed with Rajehgopal when the later said that Muntik had complained to him that she was abused by Puah.Hearing before Judicial Commissioner Mohd Yazid Mustafa continues on Feb 8.