Accused Shook Hands With Victims The Day They Died
By Rol Ezam & Ignatius Stephen

Bandar Seri Begawan - A man accused of murdering three people in a single night shook hands with two of them on the day of their deaths.

Accused car salesman, Richard Chia Kok Hong, 53, shook hands with both Maul bin Jambu, 44, and his wife Seniwati binte Untong, 37, on the morning of December 15, 2004 and that very night they and their two-year-old adopted daughter, Neena Asmira were found brutally murdered in their home at Kampong Serusop near the Brunei capital, the court heard as part of his testimony.

Richard, a neighbour, who was arrested two months later, was apparently trying to explain in court why his DNA was found under Maul's fingernails.

Maul was a Royal Brunei Airline mechanic and Seniwati, a schoolteacher.

The prosecution, led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Haji Yusree Junadi and DPP Pengiran Nina Jasmine are basing their charge on the presence of Richard's DNA under Maul's fingernails as one of their main evidence against Richard.

Richard who had been in custody for 600 days told Chief Justice Dato Mohd Saied and Justice Dato Steven Chong that on December 15 2004, Maual came to Boustead because he wanted a new quotation for the Nissan Patrol he wanted to buy to arrange financing.

The old quotation had expired. "I believe Seniwati was with him. I would have shaken their right hands that morning.

"It is my habit to shake the hands of those I meet regardless of their gender, race or religion. I would use my right hand to shake the right hand of the person I am meeting.

"Maual and Seniwati had always came together to see me regarding the purchase of the Nissan Patrol.

"On each occasion I would shake their right hands," he told the court.

Awang Yusof Hulim and Mr Siva Sankaran are defending.

Hearing continues.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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