Teenager Jailed For Setting Tahfiz On Fire And Killing 23 People
The accused will not face a mandatory death sentence because he is protected under the Child Act 2001.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 17 Aug 2020, 06:11 PM
The High Court has sentenced a teenager to prison for murdering 23 individuals at a tahfiz in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur almost three years ago
In delivering his verdict today, 17 August, High Court judge Datuk Azman Abdullah said the accused is found guilty as the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt in its case throughout the trial, reported Malay Mail.
"After considering the statements of witnesses in court, the court finds that the offender had, with intention, committed murder," Azman said.
"I, therefore, find the offender guilty [of] the offences and convict the offender on all the charges."
Pusat Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz at Jalan Keramat Hujung, Kampung Datuk Keramat.
Image via Bernama via Malay MailThe accused, then 16 years old, committed the crime at a tahfiz on Jalan Keramat Hujung, Kampung Datuk Keramat
On 14 September 2017, between 4.15am and 6.45am, the accused is said to have started a fire that ultimately caused the death of 21 tahfiz students and two wardens at Pusat Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah, reported New Straits Times.
He was charged with 23 counts of murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which was read together with Section 34 of the same code.
Upon conviction, he will face a mandatory death sentence. However, he is protected under Section 97(1) of the Child Act 2001. The law stipulates that a death sentence shall not be pronounced or recorded against the accused if he committed the crime while he was under 18 years old.
In lieu of the death sentence, Section 97 (2) of the Child Act 2001 states that the accused shall be detained at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
A suspect was caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) sneaking into the tahfiz on the day of the incident.
Image via Harian MetroIn mitigation, the accused's lawyer, Haijan Omar, said his client apologised to everyone involved in the incident
He also said the defence team will appeal against Azman's decision.
Prior to this, on 28 January 2020, the High Court ordered the accused, who is now 19 years old, to enter defence after the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against him, reported Bernama.
At that time, the High Court also acquitted another teenager, who was initially charged with self-administration of drugs.
