1-8-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) A husband-and-wife duo of moneylenders has been handed the death sentence by the High Court in Sibu for their involvement in the murder of a woman. Justice Christopher Chin Soo Yin delivered the ruling, emphasizing that the couple had a common intention in committing the heinous act as they deemed the victim incapable of earning enough for their benefit.
In his judgment, Justice Chin Soo Yin noted the prosecution’s successful establishment of a prima facie case against 41-year-old Seow Pei Chee from Subang Jaya and her husband, Cheung Chia Ming, also 41, from Kuala Lumpur.
The court was appalled by the shocking details of the case, where the couple subjected the victim and her teenage daughter to years of torment, fear, and physical abuse. The victim’s earnings as a sex worker became their means of livelihood, and when her income fell short, they resorted to violence against her.
Furthermore, the court discovered that the couple even contemplated exploiting the deceased’s daughter for their financial gain as moneylenders.
“Based on the nature of this case, I find no alternative but to impose the death sentence on the accused, in line with the amended Section 302 of the Penal Code pertaining to murder,” Justice Chin stated.
The tragic incident occurred between 10 pm on October 4 and 6 am on October 6, 2020, at a residence on Jalan Tong Sang. Subsequently, the couple disposed of the victim’s body on Jalan Aman. The victim, aged 38, succumbed to severe head and bodily injuries inflicted by the accused.
Following the discovery of the woman’s body, stuffed inside a suitcase, by a passer-by around 6:30 am on October 6, 2020, Seow and Cheung were jointly charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Code. The charges carry a mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
Seow Pei Chee was represented by counsel Yap Hoi Liong, while Cheung Chia Ming’s lawyer was Jacob Wong. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mark Kenneth Netto handled the prosecution.
