Etiqah Siti Noorashikeen Sulang’s former husband, Ambree Yunos, was also sentenced to 12 strokes of the rotan while she was exempted because of her gender, Sabah Media reported.

Justice Lim Hock Leng ordered their prison sentence to commence today.

Ambree, a contractor, and Etiqah were charged with killing Nur Afiyah Daeng Damin, 28, at their condominium unit in Penampang between Dec 8 and Dec 11, 2021.

They were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty, or 30 to 40 years’ jail, and no fewer than 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

Lim said the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.

He said the prosecution had proven three key elements – that the victim died from her injuries, that the injuries were caused by the two accused with intent, and that the pair had acted with a common intention.

During sentencing, deputy public prosecutor Dacia Jane Romanus sought the death sentence, saying the case had shocked both Sabah and the nation, and that it warranted the heaviest penalty possible.

Dacia said the deceased was a young woman who had left her hometown for honest work amid the pandemic, but ended up losing her life at her workplace.

She said the victim suffered daily and was denied her basic human rights.

Ambree and Etiqah, who were represented by lawyers Ram Singh and Rakhbir Singh, were previously out on bail.