Man Charged With Murder Of Mother, Adopted Sister In House Fire

BUTTERWORTH, Dec 26 (Bernama) -- A man was charged at the Magistrate’s Court here today with two counts of murdering his mother and adopted sister in a house fire two weeks ago.

Daniel Qayyum Kamalrolzlan, 23, nodded in understanding when the charges were read out, but no plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

He is accused of murdering Hayani Yaakob, 51, and a six-year-old girl at a house in Taman Teluk Air Tawar here at 9.45 am on Dec 10.

The charges were framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, and not fewer than 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

Magistrate Balqis Roslin denied bail and set Jan 29 for mention pending submission of the post-mortem reports on both victims.

The prosecution was conducted by prosecuting officer Insp Nor Idayu Yusoff, while the accused was unrepresented.

On Dec 23, Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the fire that killed a woman and her adopted daughter in Teluk Air Tawar on Dec 10 was believed to have been caused by the victim’s son.

In the incident, Hayani and her adopted daughter were burnt to death after being trapped in the house, while the accused was injured after being crushed by a collapsing roof structure.

-- BERNAMA