A 38-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after the Sandakan High Court found him guilty of causing the death of his pregnant wife during a violent sexual encounter in 2022.
Mohd Rusdi Mohd Nor, who was unemployed at the time, was convicted under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code for unintentionally causing the death of Dr. Azma Ab Rajab, a medical officer who was six months pregnant. The incident took place at their condominium in Jalan Utara on November 9, 2022.
Justice Celestina Stuel Galid ruled on June 26 that the prosecution had proven the charge beyond reasonable doubt. While acknowledging that there was no intent to murder and no prior record of domestic violence, she underscored the devastating outcome of the act—the loss of both a mother and her unborn child.
“The gravity of the consequence cannot be overlooked,” the judge emphasized.
During the trial, the prosecution revealed that Dr. Azma died from asphyxiation caused by smothering. Bruises were discovered on her nose, mouth, and neck—indications that she may have struggled to breathe.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Risal Abd Fikkah pointed out the tragic irony of the case: Dr. Azma, a committed emergency doctor at Duchess of Kent Hospital, who had dedicated her life to saving others, lost her own life at the hands of her husband.
The defense claimed the incident was spontaneous, that Rusdi showed remorse, and fully cooperated with the authorities. A total of 25 witnesses took the stand during the proceedings—23 for the prosecution and two for the defense, including a forensic consultant and the accused himself.
