Man acquitted of causing girlfriend's death

A chicken rice seller walked out of the High Court here a free man when he was acquitted of a charge of causing his girlfriend's death by setting her ablaze at a house in Cheras, four years ago.

In delivering the verdict, judge Kamardin Hashim said the defence had established reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case against Cheh Chun Nam, 38.

Upon hearing the verdict, Cheh's sister heaved a sigh of relief and sobbed loudly in the courtroom.

The court heard that the testimony of witnesses (like officers from the fire and rescue and police departments) on the alleged use of a lighter and the distance of the fire between Cheh and the victim, Chan Yee Mun had raised doubts whether the chicken rice seller committed the offence.

Kamardin said: "The court has described statements from the prosecution witnesses as only opinions, and has come to the conclusion that it raised the possibility that the victim had committed suicide.

On July 5, 2012, Cheh was charged with causing the death of Chan, then 23, at house No C-2-129, Persiaran Lemak, Jalan Lemak, Taman Segar in Cheras here between 2am and 3.30am on June 22.

However, on June 23 last year, he was ordered to enter his defence to a lesser charge of causing death without intent to murder, for allegedly splashing inflammable solvents on the deceased at the same place and date, which provides a maximum jail sentence of 30 years and a fine.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Nordin Ismail presented 22 witnesses while defence counsel Datuk Rajpal Singh had only one witness, namely Cheh.