KUALA LUMPUR: Two murder accused in the case of slain deputy public prosecutor Datuk Anthony Kevin Morais yesterday rejected alternatives charges of manslaughter and disposing of evidence linked to the murder that were offered to them by the prosecution.
S. Nimalan, 22, was offered the alternative charge of concealing Morais’s body and disposing of his car (WA 6264 Q) on the way between Jalan Dutamas 1 in Sentul and Ladang Kelapa Sawit, Kampong Sungai Samak, Hutan Melintang in Hilir Perak between 7am on Sept 4 and 2am on Sept 5, last year, with the intention of protecting the offenders from legal repercussions.
Meanwhile, Thinesh Kumar, 22, was offered a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder with six others, on the way between Jalan Dutamas 1 and 20 Desa Mentari in Petaling Jaya between 7am and 11.30am on Sept 4.
By rejecting the alternative charges offered, both Nimalan and Thinesh are still jointly charged with G. Gunasekaran, 43; R. Dinishwaran, 23; M. Vishwanath, 25; S. Ravichandaran, 34, with murdering Morais, 55, between 7am and 8pm on Sept 4, 2015, while the DPP was on his way from Jalan Dutamas Raya Sentul to No. 1 Jalan USJ1/6D, Subang Jaya.
All had claimed trial when they were charged in the High Court, before Judge Azman Abdullah, on Jan 27.
But when the case came up for mention yesterday for management, the prosecution led by Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, offered Nimalan and Thinesh the alternative charges.
All six face the mandatory death sentence if convicted.
Meanwhile, pathologist Col Dr R. Kunaseegaran, 52, was charged with abetting the murder of Morais under Section 109 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 302 of the same act.
Morais, who was on his way to work, had his car rammed and kidnapped.
His body was found in a cement-filled oil drum and his burnt car was found elsewhere, with the identification numbers erased.
The seven accused are represented by counsels Datuk N. Sivananthan, Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, R.S.N. Rayer, M. Manoharan and V. Rajagobal, while Datuk Simon Sabapathy is holding watching brief for Datuk Richard Morais.
Hearing for the case starts on April 6.
