37-year old Cheh Chun Nam was visibly shocked (and relieved) when the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that he was to be acquitted of the charge of setting his girlfriend on fire in 2012.
The chicken rice vendor was charged with murdering his girlfriend, Chen Yee Mun, who was 23 at the time of her death, at their apartment in Taman Segar Cheras, on June 22 2012.
The charge, falling under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carried a mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
The New Straits Times Online‘s Hidir Reduan reports that Cheh’s sister was seen sobbing in relief as the acquittal was read out. Cheh had his handcuffs removed by police officers after the acquittal.
Cheh still faces a lesser charge of causing death without intent to murder, under Section 304 of the Penal Code.
