41-Year-Old Man Charged In Butterworth Court With Murder Of Elderly Taxi Driver In Kepala Batas

BUTTERWORTH, Nov 13 – A 41-year-old unemployed man was charged in the Butterworth Magistrate’s Court on Friday, November 13, 2026, with the murder of a 73-year-old taxi driver whose body was discovered floating in a waterway in Kepala Batas last month.

S. Ganesan nodded in acknowledgement after the charge was read out before Magistrate Aini Adilah Muhammad Faizal. However, no plea was recorded, as murder offences fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

According to the charge sheet, Ganesan is accused of murdering Haron Chua Abdullah, 73, between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM on October 8, 2026, along the stretch from Jalan Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir to Jalan Permatang Pak Elong in Kepala Batas.

The charge was framed under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the mandatory death penalty or imprisonment for a term of between 30 and 40 years along with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim Zhan Yi did not offer bail, while the accused was unrepresented during the proceedings. Magistrate Aini Adilah denied bail and fixed December 18, 2026, for case mention to allow the prosecution to obtain the post-mortem and chemical analysis reports.

Case Background

Haron’s body was discovered face down in a ditch near Surau Permatang Pak Elong along Jalan Permatang Pak Elong by an angler on October 11, three days after the alleged incident, prompting police and Fire and Rescue Department personnel to retrieve the remains.

Court Proceedings, Charge Details, and Next Mention Date

Key judicial details, statutory provisions, and case timelines include:

• Accused & Victim: S. Ganesan, 41 (unemployed), charged with the murder of Haron Chua Abdullah, 73 (taxi driver).
• Incident & Discovery Timeline: Alleged offence occurred between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM on Oct 8, 2026, along Jalan Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir to Jalan Permatang Pak Elong; body found by an angler on Oct 11 near Surau Permatang Pak Elong.
• Legal Provision: Section 302 of the Penal Code (punishable by death, or 30 to 40 years’ imprisonment and at least 12 strokes of the cane).
• Court & Officials: Butterworth Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Aini Adilah Muhammad Faizal; prosecuted by DPP Lim Zhan Yi (accused unrepresented).
• Bail Status & Next Hearing: Bail denied; no plea recorded (High Court jurisdiction); next mention fixed for December 18, 2026, pending post-mortem and chemical analysis reports.

–NMT