SINGAPORE: A court hearing for a suspect who was set to plead guilty in the case of Ms Felicia Teo Wei Ling, who was reported missing in 2007 and later presumed dead, was adjourned on Wednesday (Jul 6).
Speaking to the media, the defence counsel for Ahmad Danial Mohamed Rafa’ee, 37, said that the case was moving to a pre-trial conference for parties to resolve issues.
“Both parties, the defence and prosecution, have multiple issues to resolve including facts, sentencing and documentation,” said lawyer Shashi Nathan.
“We are in polar positions for some issues,” he told reporters, adding that he wanted time to review the facts of the case.
“However, I am confident that we will be able to resolve matters fruitfully with the prosecution.”
Ahmad Danial was originally charged in 2020 with murdering Ms Teo between 1.39am and 7.20am on Jun 30, 2007 at a flat in Block 19, Marine Terrace with suspected accomplice Ragil Putra Setia Sukmarahjana, who is at large.
Last week, he was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal for the charge of murder, which is a capital offence.
A discharge not amounting to an acquittal means he can still be prosecuted for the murder charge in the future should there be developments in the case, such as the emergence of new evidence.
The murder charge was replaced with charges for six lesser offences instead. At the previous hearing, Mr Nathan had asked for a plead guilty mention for his client to admit to these charges.