TAWAU: The former wife of e-hailing driver Nurman Bakaratu, whose body was discovered in an oil palm plantation here last year, was charged with his murder today.
Nurima Juli, 34, was jointly charged with her stepbrother, Sadam Kiram, 30. The pair nodded in understanding after the charge was read out to them before magistrate Dayang Aidaku Amira Aminuddin.
No plea was recorded as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.
According to the charge, they are accused of causing the death of Nurman, 61, between 7.30pm and 11.30pm on Jan 13, 2023, at an oil palm plantation near Jalan Anjur Juara, Jalan Apas Batu 5, here. The charge carries a maximum punishment of death on conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Fakhrurazi Ahmad Salim appeared for the prosecution, while the defendants were not represented.
Eight people previously accused of the killing were acquitted on Jan 25 after the prosecution decided to drop the case when Nurima, the key prosecution witness, confessed to killing her ex-husband with a pair of scissors in his Myvi car.
Among the eight were former Eastern Sabah Security Command intelligence chief Mat Zaki Zain.
