PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has refused to commute two separate death sentences imposed on a Sabahan for murdering a teenager and a civil servant.
Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat announced that the three-member panel had declined to commute the sentences imposed on Rabidin Satir for the murders which took place 15 and 12 years ago.
Also on the panel hearing the application were Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim and Justice Nordin Hassan.
Rabidin, also known as “Rambo Bentong”, was convicted by the Temerloh High Court of killing 17-year-old Annie Kok by stabbing her in the neck at her home in Bentong, Pahang, on March 7, 2009.
He was however acquitted of a separate charge of raping the student.
On Nov 3, 2012, Rabidin was charged and convicted for the murder of forestry department officer Khairul Hazri Jamaludin at the latter’s home, and the rape of Khairul’s wife.
Both conviction and sentence were upheld on appeal by the Court of Appeal and Federal Court.
Rabidin had sought a review of his death sentences under the Revision of the Sentence of Death and Imprisonment for Natural Life (Temporary Jurisdiction of the Federal Court) Act 2023.
Deputy public prosecutor Yusaini Amer Abdul Karim objected to the application, saying Rabidin’s actions placed the case among the rarest of rare that do not warrant a favourable exercise of the court’s discretion.
In submissions, Rabidin’s lawyer Fairuz Ahmad Yusof meanwhile extended his client’s apologies to the families of Kok and Khairul.
He told the court Rabidin did not intend to commit either offence, saying his client had only entered the couple’s house to “look for firearms”.
He also said no one had testified to witnessing Kok’s murder.
In response, Tengku Maimun said: “The victims were in their homes and the accused person entered their houses to kill them. How are we supposed to feel safe at home?”
Death sentence retained for murder of teenager and child
In two other cases, the court also dismissed applications by Kher Tian Hock and Muidin Maidin to set aside their death sentences, following objection by the prosecution.
Kher had been sentenced to death for the murder of teenager See Sheau Fang on March 3, 2004, at Taman Perwira Sijangkang, Kuala Langat.
Deputy public prosecutor Roshan Karthi told the court that See had been strangled to death. Her remains were placed in a plastic bag and thrown inside a hold which was then covered with cement.
Meanwhile, Muidin was convicted of killing a five-year-old girl, Nurul Nadirah Abdullah, on March 1, 2012 at a palm oil plantation in Bandar Seri Alam, Masai, Johor.
Deputy public prosecutor Amril Johari said Nadirah’s remains were then set on fire, while Muidin’s DNA was found in the girl’s private parts.
Hasnan Hamzah appeared for Kher while Nik Ikhwan Nik Mahamud represented Muidin.
