KUALA LUMPUR — The Alor Setar High Court has sentenced an unemployed man to death for the murder of a three-year-old girl whose remains were found in a forested area in Gunung Raya, Langkawi, six years ago.
Justice Evawani Farisyta Mohammad handed down the sentence to Ramlan Abdul Rashid, 44, after finding him guilty of murdering Nur Aisyah Aleya Abdullah at a hospital staff quarters in Langkawi between 9am and 10am on February 23, 2019, under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
In her written judgment, published on the judiciary’s website on July 31, the judge said the victim died as a result of injuries sustained from prolonged physical abuse by the accused — an act the court deemed particularly egregious.
“The accused showed no humanity when he disposed of the child’s body in a forested area at Gunung Raya, Langkawi, without according her proper religious rites.
“The court also finds that the accused displayed neither remorse nor repentance throughout the trial,” she said.
She added that forensic evidence confirmed the skull and two teeth recovered from the area belonged to the biological daughter of the complainant, who is also the victim’s mother.
“The victim was an innocent young child placed in the care of the accused, who, as an adult, should have protected her,” the judgment read.
According to the prosecution, in November 2018, the victim and her mother moved into staff quarters occupied by the accused and his wife, a nurse, and stayed there for around two months.
During that time, the mother left her daughter in the accused’s care each day while she worked at a food stall.
In January 2019, the accused arranged for the mother to move into a hostel provided by her employer, while the child remained in his care.
However, during a visit to the home in February 2019, the mother was unable to locate her daughter and subsequently lodged a police report.
The accused claimed to have handed the child over to another individual, but refused to disclose the person’s identity or whereabouts.
Following police interrogation, the child’s skull and teeth were discovered in a forested area of Gunung Raya in March 2019.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Rizal Fadzil appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by counsel Ai Cha Ran. — August 1, 2025