KANGAR — Two Thai nationals were charged at the Magistrate’s Court here today with the murder of a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officer late last month.

No plea was recorded from Pradit Rimat, 22, and Rotchahan Tehpuyu, 21, after the charge was read to them in Thai by an interpreter before Magistrate Ana Rozana Mohd Nor, as murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

Both accused were jointly charged with the murder of Mohd Roshaimi Mohd Ridzuan, 41, near the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority jetty in Sungai Padang here between 11 pm on Oct 26 and 1.30 am on Oct 27.

The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Code, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and not less than 12 strokes of the cane if not sentenced to death, upon conviction.

The court did not allow bail and set Jan 5 next year for mention, pending the post-mortem and chemical reports.

MMEA deputy public prosecutors (DPPs) Wirna Arifin and Kamaliza Md Zain appeared for the prosecution, while both accused are unrepresented.

Meanwhile, at the Sessions Court before Judge Sharifah Norazlita Syed Salim Idid, the two men also faced a charge of smuggling nine Myanmar migrants using an unregistered boat.

Neither accused pleaded to that charge, which was alleged to have been committed in the waters off the mouth of Sungai Padang here between 11 pm on Oct 26 and 12.30 am on Oct 27.

The charge was framed under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to five years or a fine not exceeding RM250,000, or both, upon conviction.

However, in the same court, both accused pleaded guilty to entering Malaysia through an ungazetted route at the same location and time.