The government must reopen the criminal investigation on the rape-cum-murder of 25-year-old Chee Gaik Yap seven years ago.

This is the plea by Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming following outcry from the public when the accused in the case, Shahril Jaafar escaped the gallows after being acquitted of committing the offence.

“Despite the fact that High Court discovered that the sperm of the accused was found in the victim's vagina, he was acquitted.

“This caused a public uproar with a nationwide signature campaign to protest against the judgement and urge the Attorney General’s Chambers to file an appeal. To date, the campaign has received over 100,000 signatures.

“A total of 637 police reports also have been lodged nationwide in support of the campaign,” said Nga.

Nga said he hoped De-facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim would assist in reopening the investigation.

“I hope Shahidan would refer the matter to the Attorney General’s Chambers.

“We want the Attorney General’s Chambers to re-open criminal the investigation against the accused, to file an appeal against the High Court decision, to apply to stay the High Court judgment and to apply to the High Court to remand the accused on bail and order him to report to the police station every week pending disposal of the appeal.

“If necessary, exercise Section 158 of the Criminal Procedure Code to amend the existing charge or file alternate charges,” he said.

On June 25, Judicial Commissioner Zaki Abdul Wahab acquitted and discharged the 32-year-old car salesman of murdering Chee after finding that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case.

Seven years ago, Chee, a marketing executive and Universiti Utara Malaysia graduate, was believed to have been tailed by her assailant while jogging in the neighbourhood of Taman Ria Jaya in Sungai Petani.

She was kidnapped, raped and killed before her body was dumped at the housing estate.

Shahril, from Ayer Keroh, Malacca, was on trial for the murder that took place between 5.30pm on Jan 14, 2006, and 3.05am on Jan 15, 2006, near the Cinta Sayang Club in Taman Ria Jaya, Sungai Petani.