PETALING JAYA: An Indonesian couple has been sentenced to 35 years in jail for the murder of their elderly employer in 2020.
Bartolomeus Fransceda, a gardener, and his wife, Ekaila, a domestic helper, were sentenced by the Johor Bahru High Court today after earlier pleading guilty to murdering Lau Yen Na, 73, at a home in Palm Resort, Senai, three years ago.
Bartolomeus will also receive 12 strokes of the cane.
According to Berita Harian, Justice Hakim Abu Bakar Katar said the couple’s sentence would run from the date of their arrest.
On Nov 29, Bartolomeus and Ekaila, both 23, admitted to murdering Lau on the afternoon of March 17, 2020.
They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which carries a death sentence or a jail term of up to 40 years and 12 strokes of the rotan.
According to the facts of the case, the couple beat Lau to death with a small cangkul while she was resting.
They took the victim’s luxury MPV and mobile phone, and travelled to Kuala Lumpur to meet a friend with the hope of finding new jobs.
The couple was arrested at a restaurant in Damansara, Petaling Jaya.
Deputy public prosecutor Syafiq Ghazali appeared for the prosecution while the couple was represented by lawyers Ooi Pen Lyn and S Selvi.
