MALAYSIA: 'CURRY MURDER' CASE ENDS IN DEATH SENTENCE FOR COUSINS

September 30, 2014: A housewife and her cousin had their murder conviction upheld and were sentenced to death in Malaysia, in what is better known as the "curry murder" trial.
Indian nationals Shahmin Bano Mohammed Farooque, 46, and Javeed Akhtar Abdul Waheed, 44, failed in their final round of appeal at the Federal Court.
It was held before a five-member panel led by Court of Appeal President Justice Md Raus Sharif.
They ruled after a 30-minute break that the conviction and sentence was safe.
"There is no merit in the appeal to disturb the findings of the Shah Alam High Court and the Court of Appeal.
"The evidence is overwhelming. We dismiss the appeal and affirm the decision and conviction," Justice Md Raus said.
The other judges were Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Richard Malanjum, and Federal Court judges Justices Md Apandi Ali, Ramly Ali and Azahar Mohamed.
They were convicted of murdering Shahmin Bano's husband, Reyaz Ahamed Maruf, a businessman, at their home in Section 4, Tambahan Baru Bangi, in 2004.
It was reported that Reyaz Ahamed had been drugged while eating curry following 'buka puasa' (breaking of fast) at his house.
His body was buried by Shahmin Bano and Javeed Akhtar in a shallow grave, at the back of the house on Hari Raya day in 2004. (Sources: malaysia-chronicle.com, 30/09/2014)