JOHOR BARU — A 37-year-old ship cleaner was sentenced to death by Malaysia's High Court for murdering a millionaire businessman whose remains were found burnt in an oil palm estate in Batu Pahat, Johor three years ago.

Judge Mohd Sofian Abd Razak said the prosecution had proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt against Izwanuddin Kassim for the murder of Mr Yong Boon Cheong, 54.

Izwanuddin, who was married with two children and had worked in Singapore, appeared shocked when the decision was made by the court.

He was seen sobbing in the dock.

Mr Sofian, in delivering his judgment, said that the court was satistifed with the testimonies of the 28 witnesses who were called during the trial.

The court had determined, among other things, that Izwanuddin was present at all events that led to Mr Yong's death, including the disposal of his body.

"The pathologist from Sultanah Aminah Hospital who examined the body concluded that the victim died from a stab wound to the heart before he was set on fire," Mr Sofian said.

He said one of the prosecution witnesses also testified that Izwanuddin was in possession of a brass knuckle blade, which matched the stab wound on the murder victim.

Izwanuddin was charged with murdering Mr Yong at the Skudai highway here between 6am until 7am on July 4, 2014.

Mr Yong's body was torched by Izwanuddin under a pile of old tyres at an palm oil estate in Batu Pahat, in Malaysia's Johor state. The fire was started with petrol bought by Izwanuddin.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Norafiah Saini prosecuted, while Izwanuddin was represented by lawyer Nor Shahid Abd Malik.

Izwanuddin was initially jointly charged with Noriskandar Zainal Yahya, a Singaporean man, with the murder.

However, Noriskandar subsequently pleaded guilty to an amended charge of trying to dispose of evidence.

Earlier this year, Noriskandar was sentenced by the Sessions Court in Johor Baru to eight years' jail on the amended charge. NEW STRAITS TIMES