Two of three family members charged with the death of a couple during a 'deadly ritual' cleansing act in 2008, were sentenced to 10 years jail while the other was ordered to undergo treatment at a mental hospital by the High Court here today.

High Court judicial commissioner Azman Abdullah ordered Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Razak, 25 to be send to the Hospital Bahagia in Tanjung Rambutan while his brother Muhammad Fauzi, 23, and cousin Muhammad Nizam Mohd Ibrahim, 21, were ordered to serve the jail sentence from the date of arrest.

Muhammad Ilyas, Muhammad Fauzi and Muhammad Nizam were jointly charged with causing the deaths of Mohd Ibrahim Kader Mydin, 48, and Rosina SM Mydin Pillay, 42, at 57C Blok A, Flat Seri Sarawak, Jalan Kenanga, between noon and 8pm on Oct 1 last year.

The three were said to practice teachings of Abuya Ashaari, who claims to have the ability to raise the dead and during the incident, seven family members were allegedly beaten up in a “cleansing ritual”.

The three were charged under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code that carries up to a 20-year jail sentence if convicted.

- Bernama