Murder by ... wooden stool, stone mortar and knife

Thursday April 2, 2009

By PRISCILLA DIELENBERG

The Star Online

GEORGE TOWN: A Sessions Court here has fixed June 11 to begin hearing the trial of a 23-year-old Indonesian maid charged with attempting to murder her employer with a wooden stool, a stone mortar and a knife.

When the case was mentioned Wednesday, counsel V.M. Ravindran told the court that he had been appointed by the Indonesian Consulate to represent Hanni Seo from Kupang, West Timor.

Hanni is charged with attempted murder by attacking factory worker Phang Kian Huang, 42, at the latter's home in Rifle Range, Air Itam, at 10am on Feb 26.

The offence under Section 307(1) of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 20 years upon conviction.

Hanni, who claimed trial, was much calmer Wednesday compared with when she was first charged on March 5. On that day, she appeared confused as she was not represented by counsel and even broke down in tears at one point.

DPP Tan Gin Han objected to bail as Hanni was a foreigner.

Roslan found that the issue of bail did not arise after Ravindran said that Hanni did not have anyone to bail her out.

In view that Hanni had been in remand since her arrest, the court fixed early hearing dates in June, and Tan said the prosecution would be calling about eight to 10 witnesses.