A Nigerian national has been sentenced to death by hanging by the Kuala Lumpur High Court after being found guilty of murdering his four-year-old step-grandson six years ago.
According to Berita Harian, Justice K. Muniandy handed down the sentence to Ibekwe Emeka Augustine, 48, following a full review of the evidence presented during the trial.
Augustine was charged with causing the death of his step-grandson by throwing the child from the third floor of an apartment in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, between 7:45 am and 8:15 am on November 29, 2020. Under Section 302 of the Malaysian Penal Code, a conviction for murder carries a mandatory death sentence or imprisonment of 30–40 years with not fewer than 12 strokes of the cane.
In addition to the murder conviction, Augustine was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, to run concurrently, after being found guilty of four other charges: attempting to murder his biological son, causing grievous hurt to his wife, attempting suicide, and sexually assaulting his stepdaughter, all committed at the same location and date.
The attempted murder of his seven-year-old biological son fell under Section 307 of the Penal Code, punishable with a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine. The charge of causing grievous hurt to his wife, then aged 48, was framed under Sections 325 and 326A, carrying up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine.
The court ruling brings closure to a shocking case that has drawn attention to the severity of family-related crimes in Malaysia, highlighting the strict penalties under Malaysian law for violent offences.
