Man Who Murdered & Dismembered Victim's Body Into 8 Parts Freed After 23 Years In Prison
Now 64, Khairul Anuar Zakaria hopes society will accept his release and pledges to do good for the rest of his life.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 21 Oct 2024, 11:33 AM
64-year-old Khairul Anuar Zakaria was freed after spending 23 years behind bars for murdering a blacksmith and dismembering his body in June 2001
In an interview with Harian Metro yesterday, 20 October, Khairul said he was released from prison on 3 October after being granted a royal pardon that commuted his death sentence.
The father of nine was a successful regional sales manager for a water filter company in his 40s when he committed the crime.
However, after spending over two decades in prison, he said he has emerged as a changed person through remorse and faith.
The New Straits Times reported that he spent much of his time praying and reading in his cell.
"Read in the name of God, who is the Creator, who created the whole universe and everything in it," Khairul said, quoting his favourite verse from the Quran.
He shared that he also worked as an assistant to a religious teacher and taught other prisoners to how pray during his imprisonment.
Khairul, who now resides in Alor Setar, Kedah urged society to accept his release but understands if the public cannot forgive and forget the crime he committed
"All I can do is leave it to God. I have served my time, and I hope I make it to heaven when I die. But none of us can know if God will accept us and our prayers, so we must not be so quick to judge.
"I hope I can help society by sharing my life lessons and preaching about religion, especially repentance. I'm old now and I have nothing left to pursue. I just want to do good and hope God accepts me," he added.
Khairul was sentenced to death for murdering Chuah Leng Hai, 38, and dismembering his body into eight parts on 4 June 2001. News about the brutal murder shocked the nation.
In May 2018, the Sultan of Kedah, Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, granted him a pardon to commute his sentence. His punishment was then changed to a life sentence, which, as defined by law, lasts up to 30 years, reported Sinar Harian.
