THE prosecution has filed an appeal at the Federal Court to uphold the death sentence against former university student Muhammad Fakrul Aiman Sajali for killing and burning his pregnant girlfriend in Sabak Bernam.
Lawyer Muhammad Nor Tamrin, who represented the 23-year-old, said the prosecution filed a notice of appeal dated May 25, after the Court of Appeal set aside the death sentence in favour of 40 years' imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane.
According to him, the prosecution is challenging the entire decision, but his client does not intend to file a cross-appeal.
"Muhammad Fakrul Aiman is currently serving his sentence at Kajang Prison, accepting the decision of the Court of Appeal panel of judges because he considers the judgment of the panel of judges to be fair, just and free from any error that requires further challenge," said the lawyer.
When charged, the man pleaded guilty to one count of murdering Nur Anisah Abdul Wahab, 21, at Jalan Sungai Limau between 8.30 pm on May 22 and 8 am on May 23, 2023.
The charge was under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death sentence or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, and if not sentenced to death, must be whipped with not less than 12 strokes, if convicted.
Klang High Court Judge Norazlin Othman on October 15, 2025, later sentenced him death by hanging.
She said the court took into account the seriousness of the act, which was described as cruel and the fact that the case led to a planned crime, which required a severe sentence compared to a spontaneous crime.
However, on May 14, the Court of Appeal set aside the death sentence to 40 years' imprisonment with whipping.
A three-judge panel chaired by Datuk Azman Abdullah, who sat with Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid and Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Harun, unanimously ordered the accused to serve the prison sentence starting from the date of his arrest, May 23, 2023.
The panel took into account the appellant's young age at the time of the incident, in addition to the option of a sentence under the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 (Act 846). – June 15, 2026
