Car repossessor charged with killing AmBank founder

Car repossessor Koong Swee Kwan, 44, was today charged in the Magistrate's Court here with the murder of the founder of the Arab-Malaysian banking group (AmBank), Hussain Ahmad Najadi, at a car park in the city in July, this year.

Koong was also charged with attempting to murder Hussain's wife, Cheong Mei Kuen, 49.

However, no plea was recorded from Koong after the charge was read out to him before court assistant registrar, Rosmaniar Zainuddin.

On the first charge, he is alleged to have killed Hussain at the car park of the Kuan Yin Temple, No. 4, Lorong Ceylon, here, between 1.30pm and 2pm on July 29.

The charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries the death penalty upon conviction.

On the second charge under Section 307 of the Pena Code, Koong is alleged to have attempted to kill Cheong, who was injured in the same incident. He faces a jail term of up to 20 years if convicted.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin appeared for the prosecution while Koong, who wore a white T-shirt, was unrepresented.

The court fixed Dec 9 for re-mention of the case and to obtain the forensic report.

It was reported that in the incident, Hussain and his wife were walking towards the car park after a discussion at the temple on a land sale when a man came from behind and fired a few shots at Hussain from close range.

Hussain died at the scene and his wife was injured on her arm from a gunshot, while the assailant escaped in a taxi.