Malaysian man gets death penalty for murdering his adoptive parents

The High Court in the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan has ordered a 45-year-old man to be sent to the gallows after he was found guilty of murdering his adoptive parents.

Justice Rohani Ismail said the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt against the accused Tan Kian Ngip.

“The court also finds that the defence raised by the accused was a mere denial and an afterthought.

“And since the accused has chosen not to mitigate, the court hereby sentences him to death by hanging,” the judge said.

Tan, who was previously a stockbroker, was charged with murdering retired engineer Tan Kim Joo, 73, and his retired teacher wife Ng Chong Hwa, 67, at their house in the city of Nilai between 4pm and 7.45pm on July 24, 2019.

He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of up to 40 years and not less than 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

Counsel for the accused S. Dynasri told the court that her client did not wish to mitigate before sentencing.

Deputy public prosecutor Alauddin Baharom said although the court could use its discretion to send the accused to jail, the only punishment he deserved was death by hanging.

“The accused had mercilessly killed two people who had raised him.

“The court should also take into account that this was a premeditated crime against his own family members,” he said.

Alauddin said Tan Kim Joo had 13 injuries on his body out of which seven were stab wounds. His wife had 18 injuries with 11 stab wounds.

“The victims had raised the accused, but he committed a heinous crime.

“They had stab wounds in their vital organs, including the lungs, kidneys, liver and heart,” he said.

Alauddin said the accused had also tried to hide his crime by