SHAH ALAM – Yew Wei Liang, the 45-year-old man convicted of causing the death of Syed Muhammad Danial Syed Shakir in a road rage incident, will receive his sentence this Thursday.
High court judge Julia Ibrahim had found the former IT officer guilty of causing Syed Muhammad Danial’s death during an altercation on the North-South Expressway on August 10, 2019.
Initially charged on August 22, 2019, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty for killing, Yew’s charge was later reduced to one under Section 304.
This section pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, carrying a maximum sentence of 30 years’ jail and a fine.
The decision was based on the judge’s findings that Yew had caused Syed Muhammad Danial’s death, rather than intentionally killing him.
Despite Yew’s defence claiming a physical threat against him and his wife during the altercation with the deceased, the judge ruled that this was not proven.
However, she acknowledged Yew’s right to defend his property from the deceased during the incident.
“The accused’s right to defend his property, his Toyota Innova vehicle, from being smashed with a baseball bat by the deceased, was not extended to a point where it caused the death of the deceased,” Julia said.
“The prosecution has successfully proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt for the offence under Section 304 of the Penal Code. Therefore, the accused is found guilty.”
Deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin handled the prosecution, while lawyer Wee Chong Keong represented Yew in today’s proceedings. – December 5, 2023