MALAYSIA: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF COSMETICS QUEEN SOSILAWATI

May 23, 2013: Four men accused in the murder of cosmetics businesswoman Sosilawati Lawiya and three others were sentenced to death by the High Court in Malaysia.
The murder in Tanjung Sepat, Banting in 2010 had dominated the headlines in Malaysia for months.
"The prosecution have proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt," said Justice Akhtar Tahir.
"I find all four accused guilty as charged," he said.
Justice Akhtar Tahir was delivering his verdict while since taking charge of the trial on July 4, 2011.
His court room was packed with families of the accused persons and victims, media and lawyers.
A total of 108 prosecution and 30 defence witnesses took the stand and 742 exhibits were tendered.
Ms Sosilawati, 47, her driver Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44, bank officer Noorhisham Mohamad, 38, and lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, were reported missing after they went to Banting for a land deal.
Former lawyer N. Pathmanabhan, 43, and farm hands T. Thilaiyalagan, 21, R. Matan, 22 and R. Kathavarayan, 33, were accused of murdering Sosilawati and her aides at Lot 2001, Jalan Tanjung Layang, Tanjung Sepat, Banting, between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Aug 30, 2010. (Sources: The Star, 23/05/2013)