The Federal Court has reduced the death sentence of former lorry driver Jaafar Ngamil to 34 years in prison for the 2014 murder of his girlfriend’s husband. The victim's body was discovered in a ditch in Kampung Banting, Sabak Bernam, Selangor.
Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, leading a three-judge panel that included Datuk Hanipah Farikullah and Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, announced that Jaafar’s death penalty was commuted to a 34-year prison term. This decision was made under the Revision of Sentence of Death and Imprisonment for Natural Life (Temporary Jurisdiction of the Federal Court) Act 2023. The sentence is effective from Jaafar’s arrest on June 26, 2014.
Jaafar was initially sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court on May 4, 2017, after being found guilty of strangling Jamingan Hambali, 44. The crime occurred between June 22 and June 23, 2014, inside a car and near a ditch at Jalan Haji Omar, Kampung Banting. The Court of Appeal and the Federal Court had upheld the death sentence in 2017 and 2019.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad opposed the review application, arguing for the death sentence to be upheld due to the severity of the crime, noting that the victim was also Jaafar’s friend. In contrast, Jaafar’s lawyer, Rajit Singh, requested a reduced sentence of 30 years, highlighting Jaafar’s lack of prior criminal history and his remorse.
Testimony during the trial revealed that the victim, aware of his wife’s relationship with Jaafar, had met with Jaafar to address the issue.
Jaafar’s nephew, a prosecution witness, testified that Jaafar had asked him to drive the car while he sat behind the front passenger seat. The victim entered the car and sat in the front seat, where an argument ensued. The witness saw Jaafar strangle the victim from behind, leading to his death. Forensic evidence confirmed that the cause of death was neck compression.
Jaafar defended his actions by claiming he strangled the victim out of sudden provocation while trying to protect his nephew from assault, as well as due to a dispute over delayed wages.
