Nigerian Man Sentenced to Death in Malaysia for Murder of Step-Grandson
A Malaysian court has sentenced a Nigerian man, Ibekwe Emeka Augustine, to death after finding him guilty of murdering his four-year-old step-grandson by throwing the child from a building.
The judgment was delivered by a High Court in Malaysia after the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Augustine intentionally caused the death of the minor. The incident, which shocked the local community, reportedly occurred when the child was thrown from an upper floor of a residential building, leading to fatal injuries.
According to court proceedings, the prosecution presented medical and eyewitness evidence linking the accused directly to the act. The defence pleaded for leniency, but the court held that the offence was grave and warranted the maximum punishment under Malaysian law.
In delivering the verdict, the judge described the act as cruel and inhuman, stressing that the court had a duty to protect vulnerable members of society, especially children.
Under Malaysian law, murder carries a mandatory death sentence, although recent legal reforms allow for limited judicial discretion in certain cases.
The case has drawn attention both in Malaysia and Nigeria, with calls for the Nigerian mission in Malaysia to monitor the situation and ensure due process.
