Hussain Najadi murder trial: Car repossessor pleads not guilty

A car repossessor pleaded not guilty today in the High Court to the murder of Arab-Malaysian Banking (AmBank) Group founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi at a parking lot here in July last year.

Koong Swee Kwan, 45, also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Hussain's wife, Cheong Mei Kuen, 49.

Koong, who was seen to be calm, registered his plea before Justice Datuk Azman Husin, who then set two weeks, from June 9 to 20, for the trial.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Yusaini Amer Abd Karim told the media that between 15 and 20 witnesses would be called to testify at the trial.

On October 3 last year, Koong was charged with the murder of Hussain under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death sentence upon conviction.

Koong, who was represented by counsel Zamri Idrus, was also charged with the attempted murder of Hussain's wife under Section 307 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail sentence of up to 20 years upon conviction.

He was charged with committing the two offences at the parking lot of the Kuan Yin Chinese temple at No. 4, Lorong Ceylon, here, between 1.30 pm and 2 pm on July 29 last year. No plea was recorded then.

In the incident, Hussain, 75, was killed and his wife was badly injured after being shot at close range soon after emerging from the temple following a discussion on a land deal.