Etiqah Siti Nor Ashikeen Mohd Sulong (right) with her counsel. -Pic courtesy of Rakhbir Singh.
Etiqah Siti Nor Ashikeen Mohd Sulong (right) with her counsel. -Pic courtesy of Rakhbir Singh.

KOTA KINABALU: The case of a couple charged with killing their maid was transferred to the High Court today.

Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie made the order on Mohammad Ambree Yunos @ Unos, 40, and his wife, Etiqah Siti Nor Ashikeen Mohd Sulong, 34, following an application by the prosecution for the case to be transferred to the High Court.

Contractor Ambree and Etiqah, a former MasterChef Malaysia 2012 finalist, were jointly charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

The charge states that the two had allegedly murdered Nur Afiah Daeng Dami, 28, at a home in Amber Tower, Lido Avenue, Jalan Lintas, Penampang, between Dec 10 and 13 last year.

The victim, whose parents are Indonesian citizens, is a MyKad holder.

Mohammad Ambree Yunos (second right) with his counsel. - Pic by Ersie Anjumin.
Mohammad Ambree Yunos (second right) with his counsel. - Pic by Ersie Anjumin.

Ambree and Etiqah were first brought to court on Dec 29 last year. However, no plea was recorded from both the accused as murder comes under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

Despite murder being a non-bailable offence, Etiqah was granted bail by the Court of Appeal on April 26. Ambree was granted bail on Oct 20 by the High Court.

Stephanie ordered the bail for the couple to be extended pending disposal of the case.

Counsels Ram Singh, Kimberly Ye and Chen Wen Jye represented Ambree while Etiqah was represented by Datuk Seri Rakhbir Singh.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Shafeerah Mad Iskim for prosecuted.