Three men were charged with murder today in the Magistrate’s Court for the death of their friend, whose charred body was discovered in the bushes near Semenyih Dam, Selangor, last month.

The accused are Zulkarnain Md Ariffin, 44, a workshop worker; Muhamad Iqbal Zainal, 30, an electrical shop worker; and Syed Fikri Barakbah Syed Mohd Bakri, 28, an electrical company employee. They are accused of murdering Mohamed Afiq Hamdan, 28, at a residence on Jalan Hulu Langat, Selangor, between 3 and 5 am on June 22.

The charges, under Section 302 of the Penal Code and read together with Section 34, carry severe penalties, including the death sentence or imprisonment for 30 to 40 years, and if not sentenced to death, at least 12 lashes if convicted.

The accused acknowledged the charges as they were read before Magistrate Nurul Hafzan Ab Aziz, but no confessions were recorded since the case will be tried in the High Court.

Magistrate Nurul Hafzan has scheduled the next court date for August 23.

According to a Bernama report, the three men were arrested on July 11 on suspicion of killing their friend over an unpaid RM7,000 debt. Kajang district police chief ACP Naazron Abdul Yusof said the investigation was triggered by the discovery of the torched body near Semenyih Dam on June 23.