No plea was recorded from Fahrur Radzi Chahat when the charge was read to him before magistrate Mazana Sinin, according to Berita Harian.

The 34-year-old accused was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code with intentionally causing the death of his cellmate, Indonesian national Paidi Atmok Sukar, at Sungai Udang prison at about 2pm on Feb 17.

If convicted, Fahrur faces the death penalty.

Deputy public prosecutor J Banusha did not offer bail to the accused, who was unrepresented.

The case will be mentioned again in court on May 29 pending the production of a forensic report by the prosecution.

The incident was alleged to have taken place in a dispute over a serving of bread.

Paidi, 47, was confirmed dead at the Melaka Hospital seven days after he was hospitalised.

A doctor who treated him confirmed that he suffered bleeding in the head, a bump on the left side of his head, and injuries to his left eye and ear.