Malaysia: Car Repossessor Charged with Murder of Ambank Founder; New Lead Found

Koong Swee Kwan, a car repossessor by profession, has been booked for murdering Arab-Malaysian Banking group (AmBank) founder Hussain Najadi, in Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's court on Thursday.

On 29 July, Hussain and his wife were walking towards a car park when the accused allegedly fired shots at them from a close range.

Hussain was killed and his 49-year-old wife, Cheong Mei Kuen, was left with an injured arm. The assailant reportedly fled from the spot in a taxi.

Koong has been accused of attempting to harm and murder Hussain's wife as well.

The 44-year-old accused stood patiently unrepresented by lawyers as the criminal charges were read out to him in court. Koong did not plead against to the charges of murder under Section 302 of Malaysian Penal Code and the charge of 'attempt to harm and murder' under Section 307 booked against him. He would be given the death penalty if proven guilty of the murder.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for 9 December, when forensic reports are expected to be produced before the court.

The Malaysian police have found another lead regarding Hussain's murder.

According to a report by The Star, the suspect who had business dealings with Hussain left for Australia three days after the shooting.

"We are giving the man a week to come back and help us in our investigations. We are in the process of issuing a warrant of arrest for him and will liaise with Interpol to bring him back if he fails to turn himself in," City CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ku Chin Wah told the agency.