Judge dismisses appeal of bomber

Judge dismisses appeal of bomber

MALAYSIA: A court on Monday dismissed the appeal of a man who sent a parcel bomb which injured two Malaysian students in New Zealand five years ago, the national news agency reported.

High Court judge Ian Chin ruled that despite some misdirection by a lower court, the evidence against Dominic Chin Joon Siong was overwhelming, and "there has been no failure of justice," Bernama reported.

Chin, 35, was sentenced in 1998 to 10 years in prison by the Sessions Court in Miri, a town in the Borneo state of Sarawak. He was convicted of sending a bomb by courier service from the state capital Kuching to Wellington, New Zealand in October 1996.

Two Malaysians studying at Victoria University in Wellington suffered burns on their faces, arms and legs when they opened the package and the bomb exploded in their car Oct. 30.

Chin was charged under Malaysia's Aviation Offenses Act with placing an explosive device on a plane in service which could endanger its safety in flight. Chin's lawyer said he would appeal Monday's decision to a higher court, Bernama reported. -- AP