Personal bodyguard faces 9 charges including 3 murders

A personal bodyguard was today charged with the murder of three people, attempted murder of five others and voluntarily causing hurt to another individual.

Ja'afar Halid, 37, was charged in the Magistrate's Court with shooting to death his employer and businessman Datuk Ong Teik Kwong, 32; Choi Hoi Ming, 32; and Senthil Murugiah, 38, near Penang Bridge along Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, between 7.15pm and 7.30pm on Dec 1.

No plea were recorded from him and magistrate Mohamad Amin Shahul Hamid set Jan 16 for remention.

The accused was unrepresented while deputy public prosecutor Nurul Fatin Hussin appeared for the prosecution.

In the Sessions Court, Ja'afar admitted shooting and attempting to kill Lee Hong Boon, 56; Nurul Huda Ab. Aziz, 38; Puah Bee Joo, 32; Mohamad Amirul Amin Mohamed Amer, 28; and K. Arivarni, 33, at the same place, time and date.

However, the court did not record the plea after deputy public prosecutor Nurul Huda Idris applied for a new mention date and an order for the accused to be sent to Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Perak for mental health examination.

Judge Irwan Suaibon set Jan 16 for remention and ordered the accused to undergo mental health examination for one month, under Rule 342(5) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

In another magistrate's court, Ja'afar also pleaded guilty to hitting the head of Lim Boon Leng, 32, with a firearm at the same place, time and date.

The court did not record the plea.

Magistrate Sharifah Izura Syed Mashor set Jan 16 for remention and also granted the DPP's application for the accused to be referred to the same hospital. -- Bernama