26-11-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) A church pastor has been charged with the murder of his elderly mother in a case that has sent shockwaves through the Malaysian capital’s suburban community.
N. Deanesh, 53, appeared before the magistrates court yesterday to face charges relating to the death of his mother, Catherine Daniel, 77, whose body was allegedly concealed in a freezer at their Taman OUG residence for three years.
The defendant, who appeared in court wheelchair-bound and visibly unkempt, is accused of committing the murder between 21st and 26th March 2021. When the charge was read, Deanesh responded with a brief “Faham” (I understand) in Malay.
The case, which falls under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries severe penalties including capital punishment or a prison term ranging from 30 to 40 years, accompanied by a minimum of 12 strokes of the rotan.
Due to the gravity of the offence, no plea was recorded as murder cases fall under High Court jurisdiction. Magistrate Atiqah Mohamed @Mohamad Saim scheduled the next hearing for 7th February 2025.
The case gained significant public attention following media reports of the discovery of a woman’s body, believed to have been stored in a freezer since 2021 by her son.
Detective Inspector Rahman, leading the investigation, declined to provide additional details, citing the ongoing nature of the inquiry. However, police sources indicate that the discovery was made following a tip-off from concerned neighbours.
Local residents expressed shock at the allegations, with one neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, describing the accused as “a quiet man who kept to himself.”
