Kota Kinabalu: A 33-year-old man, Chung King Fung @ Haider Daniel Chung Abdullah, pleaded guilty in the High Court here on Monday to murdering his former girlfriend, Nurul Ain Silien, three years ago.
Chung admitted to killing 21-year-old Nurul Ain between 12 noon and 12.20pm on May 29, 2023, at the Polar Ice Cream shop at a mall here.
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Judge Datuk Alexander Siew How Wai deferred sentencing to Friday, Feb 13, after confirming that Chung fully understood the nature and consequences of his guilty plea.
Chung had previously claimed trial on Jan 15, 2025, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries either the death penalty or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years, along with at least 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed for male convicts under 50.
Prosecutors told the court that Chung and Nurul Ain had known each other since mid-2022.
On May 28, 2023, Chung bought two knives at Super Save, Centre Point.
The next day, he rode his motorcycle to the mall, concealing one knife under the seat and the other in his sock.
CCTV footage showed Chung entering the shop, sitting near Nurul Ain, and then attacking her with repeated stabbings to her sides and back. Despite her screams for help, he continued until she collapsed.
A security guard tried to intervene, but the assault continued.
Chung later wiped blood from his hands and called 999. Paramedics from Queen Elizabeth Hospital arrived at 12.45pm, but Nurul Ain was pronounced dead at 1pm.
A post-mortem revealed eight stab wounds, including two superimposed wounds, which caused her death.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Dacia Jane Romanus urged the court to impose the death penalty, citing the premeditated nature of the attack, its occurrence in broad daylight, and the disregard for human life and public safety.
She emphasised the trauma suffered by the victim’s family and rejected claims that the crime was a “crime of passion.”
If the court opts for imprisonment instead, the prosecution recommended 30–35 years’ jail with 12 strokes of the cane.
They also applied for compensation for the victim’s parents under Section 426(1B) of the Criminal Procedure Code, citing emotional and financial loss.
Counsel Jakaria Ab Jalil held a watching brief for the victim’s family.
Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, Feb 13.
