Ex-car repossessor guilty of Ambank founder's murder

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has convicted former car repossessor Koong Swee Kwan over the murder of Ambank Group founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi and the attempted murder of the latter's wife.

Judicial commissioner Abdul Karim Abdul Rahman said the accused's defence was his own creation and cannot be accepted by the court.

"It failed to raise reasonable doubt to the case and hence the accused is found guilty of the charge," he said.

Abdul Karim further described Koong's defence as improbable, as he had accused a taxi driver and his best friend of shooting Najadi despite eyewitness reports stating otherwise.

The judicial commissioner questioned why Koong left the scene in the same taxi, driven by the person that the accused said was the real murderer.

Several eyewitnesses, including Najadi's wife, identified Koong as the murderer in their testimonies. There were 17 prosecution witnesses and two defence witnesses called.

Koong, 48, was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code with murdering Najadi, 75, at the car park of the Kuan Yin Temple at No 4 Lorong Ceylon, in Kuala Lumpur between 1.30pm and 2pm on July 29, 2013.

He was also charged under Section 307 (1) of the Penal Code for the attempted murder of Najadi's wife Cheong Mei Kuen, 50, at the same place and time, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years.

The accused was sentenced to 18 years jail for the attempted murder and death by hanging for the murder.

Previously, the Federal Court had set-aside Koong's conviction and sentence last December. However, there was an order for a retrial by a five-member bench led by Chief Judge of Malaya Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin.

Wife: 'It was like a horror movie'

Najadi's wife Cheong provided a witness impact assessment testimony before Koong was sentenced, explaining her trauma when witnessing her husband's murder.

Cheong, who cried throughout her testimony, described her late husband as a dignified and humble man who treated her with kindness and generosity.

She said her husband was at the temple to help someone and was not involved in a purported property transaction.

Seeing her husband shot twice in the chest and stomach was something she could not forget as it ended her husband's life while she suffered injuries.

"Two long years I have been bed-ridden (as a result of her injuries) and confined in my modest home. It is like a horror movie and I thank god who managed to save my mind and body," Cheong said.

"How can I forget the face of the man before me who was involved in the cold-blooded murder which was premeditated. The cruelest part is that he (the killer) has left behind a grieving widow deeply traumatised in mind and body."

Cheong said she suffered further anguish by having to recall the incident again during the retrial.

"No human being was made to undergo this. I collapsed to the floor following the news," she said.

Hired killer

She said that after the episode, she cannot heal from the pain and trauma that she had to face.

"It is beyond my comprehension, a hired killer was willing to do this... killed for a price, for a sum of money... paid to do this job without thinking of the repercussion.

"I want to seek justice for my beloved husband and myself. Justice must prevail," she said.

Abdul Karim, in sentencing, said this is a heinous crime which happened in broad daylight in a public place in front of Cheong and hence the court should take into consideration the interests of the public.

"The violent crime had caused anguish and long-term trauma to the victim," he said.

DPP Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin along with DPP Mohd Hamzah Ismail and DPP Siti Sisyah Ahmad appeared for the prosecution while lawyer Micheal KL Chee appeared for Koong.- Mkini