The Court of Appeal in Malaysia commuted Muhammad Fakrul Aiman Sajali’s death sentence to 40 years' imprisonment plus 12 strokes of the cane on May 14, 2026 [1, 2]. The 20-year-old former student had been sentenced to death by the Klang High Court on October 15, 2025, for murdering and burning his 21-year-old pregnant girlfriend Nur Anisah Abdul Wahab [1, 2].

The murder occurred between 8:30 pm on May 22 and 8 am on May 23, 2023, at Jalan Sungai Limau, Sabak Bernam [1, 2]. The victim was stabbed and slashed multiple times before being set on fire [1]. Muhammad Fakrul was arrested on May 23, 2023, and the new prison sentence will take effect from that date [1, 2].

The appeal bench comprised Justices Datuk Azman Abdullah, Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid, and Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Harun [1, 2]. They cited the offender’s young age—20 years and four months at the time of the offence—and the 2023 Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act which allows courts discretion between death and imprisonment [1, 2]. The court stated, “Taking into account the appellant’s young age at the time of the incident, and the options available under the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023, the court hereby sets aside the sentence of hanging until death imposed by the High Court and replaces it with a sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment from the date of arrest and 12 strokes of the cane.” [2]

The defence lawyer, Muhammad Nor Tamrin, argued that the death sentence was "excessively harsh" given his client’s age at the time of the offence and pointed out mitigation, including DNA tests showing the victim’s foetus was not the appellant’s child [1, 2]. The Deputy Public Prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob countered that despite Fakrul’s youth, the brutality and seriousness of the offence justified the death sentence, stating, "If a person is not too young to commit a serious offence under the law, then he is not too young to suffer the penalties prescribed by the law." [1]

Under the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023, male offenders under 50 who avoid the death sentence receive a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane [2].

Muhammad Fakrul’s 40-year prison sentence and caning represent the maximum custodial term allowed given the circumstances [1, 2]. The case remains a notable application of Malaysia’s revised death penalty laws.

The ruling concludes the appeal stage, with the prison term effective from Muhammad Fakrul’s arrest date of May 23, 2023. [1, 2]