PUBLIC PROSECUTOR v Muhammad Salihin Bin Ismail

Case Significance

Public Prosecutor v Muhammad Salihin bin Ismail [2024] SGCA 22 was a grounds of decision of the Court of Appeal of Singapore, delivered by Tay Yong Kwang JCA on 1 July 2024 on behalf of a coram comprising Sundaresh Menon CJ, Tay Yong Kwang JCA and Debbie Ong Siew Ling JAD, following a hearing on 2 April 2024. It disposed of Criminal Appeals Nos 5, 19 and 23 of 2022, arising from Criminal Case No 6 of 2021. Muhammad Salihin bin Ismail ("Salihin") was the stepfather of the deceased, Nursabrina Agustiani Abdullah (the "Victim"), and had claimed trial to a charge of murder under s 300(c) punishable under s 302(2) of the Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed).

The charge arose from two incidents between about 9.00 a.m. on 1 September 2018 and about 9.40 a.m. on 2 September 2018 at Block 447A, Bukit Batok West Avenue 9, in which Salihin was alleged to have punched and kicked the Victim in her abdomen, causing intra-abdominal bleeding that resulted in her death on 2 September 2018. As reflected in the catchwords, the matter concerned the offence of murder. The Prosecution was represented by the Attorney-General's Chambers, including Lim Yu Hui and Senthilkumaran Sabapathy, while Salihin was represented by Eugene Thuraisingam LLP, including Eugene Thuraisingam and Suang Wijaya.