Justice Ravintharan Paramaguru said the child could continue to live with the grandparents as it was the mother who was guilty of the crime of killing her husband, not her parents.

Ravintharan, however, said the paternal grandparents, could have reasonable access to the boy, who now lives in Kuching.

The judge also left it to the lawyers of both grandparents to decide on the access to the child.

The paternal grandparents, Wong Tiew Ming and his wife Law Poh Ing, broke down in court today after the ruling.

The couple had moved from Sibu to Kuching to be close to their grandson, staying with his maternal grandparents.

Lawyer Christina Teng, who represented the couple, said her clients were disappointed with today’s outcome.

“I am awaiting further instructions on the next course of action,” she told FMT.

On Oct 28, 2017, the High Court sentenced to death Ling Hang Tsyr for abetting her lover, Tiong King Guan, who is now missing, in the murder of her husband, Wong Jing Kui, a former HSBC branch manager.

The offence was committed at the couple’s home on Jalan Ulu Sg Merah in Sibu at 1.30am on June 14, 2012.

Another accused, Ling Hoe Ing, was jailed 16 years after he pleaded guilty to committing culpable homicide.

The boy, then three years old, was said to be a material prosecution witness.

Police are continuing the search for Tiong with Interpol’s help while Wong’s family has also offered a RM50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

The paternal grandparents, in late 2012, applied for full custody of the child as access and control were denied by the accused (Ling Hang Tsyr) and her parents following the death of the victim.

Teng said the family had applied for custody in November 2012 but the court instead proposed a consent order putting the child custody case on hold until the murder trial was concluded.