Second judge steps down in appeal of woman convicted of hubby’s murder

Lawyer Christina Teng (left) with family members of Wong Jing Kui outside the Court of Appeal in Kuching today.

KUCHING: The Court of Appeal here today adjourned, for the second time, the hearing of an appeal by a woman sentenced to death for her husband’s murder, after a second judge recused himself from the case.

Ling Hang Tsyr was found guilty in 2017 of abetting her missing lover, Tiong King Guan, in the murder of bank manager Wong Jing Kui.

Court of Appeal judge Umi Khalthum Abdul Majid, who led a three-member bench, adjourned the hearing to Aug 26 after judge Stephen Chung decided to recuse himself as he is familiar with Tiong.

“We have reached to a stage where the court has to be sensitive on this issue.

“We have to be very careful about having a proper quorum to hear the case,” Umi Khalthum said.

Tiong King Guan.

The other judge sitting today Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil.

In August 2018, Ling’s appeal was adjourned after Court of Appeal judge Ravinthran N Paramaguru recused himself due to his involvement in the custody hearing of Ling and Wong’s son.

Wong’s family lawyer, Christina Teng, said they respected Chung’s decision to recuse himself as it would raise issues in future.

She also said Wong’s family would be offering a reward of RM50,000 to locate Tiong, who had gone missing since 2015.

Teng also said they were trying to gain access to the couple’s son, who is currently under the care of Ling’s parents.

“The deceased’s family has actually won access to the child but despite the court order, the appellent and her parents refuse to grant us access,” she said.

She said the family had also lodged a police report denying allegations of child abuse made by Ling and her parents to prevent them access to the boy.

Teng said the family had not had been in contact with the boy since Wong’s death. - FMT