Crime: Choo Gaik Yap Kidnap, Rape & Murder - Suspect aquitted

Dad tries to jump off court building

ALOR SETAR: The father of a woman who was raped and killed seven years ago was so distraught when the murder accused was acquitted that he tried to jump off the double-storey courthouse here.

Several pressmen managed to stop Chee Ah Sau from jumping over the corridor railing.

Earlier in the High Court, Judicial Commissioner Zaki Abdul Wahab acquitted and discharged car salesman Shahril Jaafar, 32, of murdering Chee Gaik Yap (pic), 25, after finding that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case.

After the ruling, Chee, 56, told reporters outside the courtroom that he was saddened by the decision. He and his wife Lim Kim Nai, 55, then broke into tears.

“I want justice for my daughter,” Chee said. “I have waited so long for it but it turned out like this.”

Seven years ago, Gaik Yap, a marketing executive and Universiti Utara Malaysia graduate, was believed to have been tailed by her assailant while jogging in the neighbourhood of Taman Ria Jaya in Sungai Petani.

She was kidnapped, raped and killed before her body was dumped at the housing estate.

Shahril, from Ayer Keroh, Malacca, was on trial for the murder that took place between 5.30pm on Jan 14, 2006, and 3.05am on Jan 15, 2006, near the Cinta Sayang Club in Taman Ria Jaya, Sungai Petani.

Zaki said Gaik Yap was reported missing while jogging on Jan 14, 2006, and her body was found in the same area the next morning.

He said Shahril was among several individuals rounded up for investigations three years later – on March 1, 2009. He was released and left for Australia four days later before being arrested upon returning to the country on Jan 17 last year.

Zaki said there was no evidence to show the accused stabbed his victim.

He said Shahril’s DNA had similarities to the traces of semen found on the victim but it was not a complete match and there was a possibility that a third person contributed to that DNA profile.

Zaki said it was circumstantial evidence that Shahril lived near the area and that his family owned a Naza car with dark tinted windows similar to the one spotted speeding away from where Gaik Yap was reported missing.

“However, it does not prove it was Shahril who drove the car or that he had committed the murder,” he said.

The details of the case is a bit sketchy. However, the verdict has raised questions and eyebrows. From my understanding, it is the lack of evidence to prove that he is guilty. It doesn't say that he was not involved or was not at the crime scene at all. According to the judge, there is no solid evidence to link him to abduction, rape and murder.

I wouldn't want to speculate because of the lack of details at this time. Perhaps in the coming days, those who are involved directly would offer more information regarding this case.

There seems to be many unsolved cases through the years, the latest being William Yau. It is indeed worrying.

2006

• Evening jog turned fatal for 25-year-old

The victim went for a jog in the park with her sister. She was abducted, driven off in a MPV, raped and murdered. Nine hours later, her body was found 200m from the area where she was abducted.

Shahril was one of the suspects apprehended by the police. Their DNA samples were taken. Police found that DNA matched Shahril's. Before the police could arrest him, he fled to Australia where he has PR status and stayed there until his return in 2012. 

2012

• Fugitive nabbed at KLIA six years later
• Businessman charged with 2006 murder of marketing executive (Updated) 
• Perth opal dealer faces Malaysia's gallows

Shahril was arrested at the airport on his way back to Malaysia in 2012.


Conclusion by the court:

1. There's no evidence that Shahril stabbed and killed the victim.
2. Even though Shahril's DNA was found, there's another guy's DNA as well
3. Although he owns a car similar to the one witnesses saw, same brand, colour, even the window tint, it's just a coincidence.

Questions:

1. How did Shahril become a suspect? Was it through the car's description or registration or eye-witness?
2. How did Shahril's DNA end up in the victim? Who's the 3rd person?
3. Since they found more than one person's DNA, how many persons were involved in the crime?
4. Was there any evidence such as fingerprint, hair, fabric or DNA of the victim in the car? 
5. Where was he and what was he doing at the time and date of the crime?
6. Does he have an alibi?
7. Why did he flee the country just as the police were to arrest him? 
8. How did he know that he was going to be arrested?

Magistrate: Raja Shahril Anuar Raja Baniamin
Deputy public prosecutor: Lin Cheah Yit
Judicial Commissioner: Zaki Abdul Wahab
 

The victim - Chee Gaik Yap

The suspect - Shahril Jaafar

Shahril's parents, Datuk Jaafar Jamaludin and wife

 Shahril's parents were once featured in The Star in 2007 : Meteoric rise

Dato’ Jaafar Bin Jamaludin
DSDK, ARICS, AVA, MISM

is a Member of the Institution of Surveyors, Malaysia; a Professional Associate of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; an Associate Member of the Rating and Valuation Associate (ARVA) in the United Kingdom; and a Registered Valuer with the Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents, Malaysia. Key positions he had held include Technical Manager of the Malaysian Building Society Berhad (1975-1980); Executive Director of Advance Development Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Kulim (Malaysia) Berhad) (1980-1985); Chief Executive of Kedah State Economic Development Corporation (1985-1993); and Chairman of Chesterton International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd as well as Chairman and Director of various other companies including Bina Puri Holdings Berhad (1994-1997). - Source

Wanita MCA is unable to accept High Court’s decision to release rape and murder suspect 

My deepest condolences to the family of Chee Ah Sau. May they find closure and peace.

2015 UPDATE: http://year1malaysia.blogspot.com/2015/08/crime-choo-gaik-yap-kidnap-rape-murder.html

2014 UPDATE: http://year1malaysia.blogspot.com/2014/10/crime-choo-gaik-yap-kidnap-rape-murder.html