Alor setar: A factory worker was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with the murder of his mother, who was a bank executive, earlier this month. The accused, Amirul Shafiq Shamshul Zahari, 29, showed understanding as the charge was read before Magistrate Eliana Ismail. No plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Amirul Shafiq is accused of murdering Zahrullail Basir, 52, at a residence in Taman Sultan Abdul Halim between 3.15 am and 8 am on February 2. He faces charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment ranging from 30 to 40 years, along with at least 12 strokes of the cane if not sentenced to death.

The court has scheduled May 11 for the mention of the post-mortem and forensic reports. Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Fatin Azera Norhisham led the prosecution, while the accused was without legal representation.

In connection to the February 2 incident, police were alerted at 8.45 am by another son of the victim, reporting his mother's murder. Amirul Shafiq, the victim's eldest son, was subsequently arrested at 8.34 pm on the same day while on an express bus heading to Selangor.