Public Prosecutor v Rasheed Muhammad: Murder with Common Intention under Section 302(1) read with Section 34 of the Penal Code

In the High Court of Singapore, Rasheed Muhammad and Ramzan Rizwan were charged with the murder of Muhammad Noor under Section 302(1) read with Section 34 of the Penal Code. The court, presided over by Choo Han Teck J, found both Rasheed and Ramzan guilty of murder, determining that they acted with common intention to kill Muhammad Noor on 11 June 2014 at Room 44, 6 Rowell Road, Singapore. The court concluded that robbery was the motive and their actions demonstrated an intention to kill.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Both accused guilty and convicted accordingly.

1.3 Case Type

Criminal

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Rasheed Muhammad and Ramzan Rizwan were convicted of murder with common intention for the death of Muhammad Noor. The court found they intended to kill and rob the victim.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Public ProsecutorProsecutionGovernment AgencyGuilty verdict for both accusedWon
Houston Johannus of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Kong Kuek Foo of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Ong Luan Tze of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Rasheed MuhammadDefendantIndividualGuilty of murderLost
Ramzan RizwanDefendantIndividualGuilty of murderLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Houston JohannusAttorney-General’s Chambers
Kong Kuek FooAttorney-General’s Chambers
Ong Luan TzeAttorney-General’s Chambers
Wong Siew HongEldan Law LLP
Favian Kang Kok BoonEldan Law LLP
N Sudha NairLexcompass LLC
Ragbir Singh s/o Ram Singh BajwaBajwa & Co
Jerrie TanEugene Thuraisingam LLP
Dhanaraj James SelvarajJames Selvaraj LLC

4. Facts

  1. Muhammad Noor was found dead in a luggage bag.
  2. Rasheed and Ramzan were identified as tenants of the lodging house where Muhammad Noor stayed.
  3. Rasheed and Ramzan admitted to being in Muhammad Noor’s room at the time of the attack.
  4. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation due to smothering.
  5. Rasheed and Ramzan purchased luggage bags and saws to dismember and dispose of the body.
  6. Money was found in Ramzan’s possession after his arrest.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Public Prosecutor v Rasheed Muhammad and another, Criminal Case No 60 of 2016, [2017] SGHC 29

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Muhammad Noor died in Room 44, 6 Rowell Road, Singapore.
Tan Tin Loke struggled to move a luggage bag containing Muhammad Noor's torso.
Rasheed Muhammad and Ramzan Rizwan were arrested.
Rasheed Muhammad made a statement to the police.
Ramzan Rizwan made a statement to the police.
Trial began.
Trial continued.
Judgment reserved.
Judgment delivered.

7. Legal Issues

  1. Murder with Common Intention
    • Outcome: The court found that both accused shared a common intention to kill the victim, leading to their conviction for murder.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Intention to cause death
      • Common intention to commit crime

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Conviction for murder

9. Cause of Actions

  • Murder

10. Practice Areas

  • Criminal Litigation

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
No cited cases

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Penal Code (Cap. 224, 2008 Rev. Ed) s 302(1)Singapore
Penal Code (Cap. 224, 2008 Rev. Ed) s 34Singapore
Penal Code s 300(a)Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Common intention
  • Asphyxiation
  • Smothering
  • Luggage bag
  • Dismemberment
  • Murder
  • Penal Code

15.2 Keywords

  • Murder
  • Common Intention
  • Singapore
  • Criminal Law
  • Asphyxiation

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Criminal Law95
Murder90
Criminal Procedure60
Evidence50

16. Subjects

  • Criminal Law
  • Homicide