Timeline of the Grisly Murder of a Maid by MasterChef M'sia Finalist & Her Ex-Husband

According to a report by Malay Mail, the offence occurred over several days between December 8 and 11, 2021, in a condominium unit at Amber Tower, Lido Avenue, Penampang, Sabah.

Here’s a chronology of how the case unfolded:

December 8–11, 2021

Afiah’s lifeless body was discovered at the couple’s residence. Initially, the circumstances surrounding her death were unclear.

Further investigation later revealed that the 28-year-old maid from South Sulawesi had died from intentional injuries inflicted over time.

December 14, 2021

Etiqah and Ambree were arrested just days after the discovery of Afiah’s body. The couple claimed they had found Afiah unconscious on their apartment floor after returning from a holiday in Kundasang, and subsequently filed a police report.

However, their story was quickly disproven when forensic findings revealed a much grislier truth.

December 16, 2021

A forensic odontologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Dr Norhayati Jaffar, uncovered evidence of physical assault particularly around and inside Afiah’s mouth during the post-mortem.

Injuries included:

• Eight soft tissue injuries to her mouth
• Trauma to six front teeth, including the left central and lateral incisors, showing signs of being forcibly gripped
• Torn gums, indicating the injuries occurred close to the time of death
• Pain level described as “10 out of 10” due to the absence of local anesthesia

Dr Norhayati also stated that pliers submitted as an exhibit could have been used to inflict the injuries. The wounds were still open during examination, suggesting they occurred near the time of death.

December 29, 2021 – November 17, 2022

With overwhelming evidence, the case was officially brought to court on December 29, 2021. In April 2022, Etiqah was granted bail by the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya while awaiting the case’s transfer to the High Court.

Although murder is a non-bailable offence, the court found merit in the application under special circumstances, as Etiqah was a breastfeeding mother according to NST.

She was released on RM30,000 bail with one local surety and was required to surrender her passport and travel documents to the Magistrate’s Court.

By November 17, 2022, both Etiqah and Ambree claimed trial under Section 302 of the Penal Code, read with Section 34, which involves common intention.

During the trial, digital evidence recovered from the accused’s phones confirmed that the victim had been subjected to prolonged abuse, resulting in fatal injuries and trauma to her face and body.

June 20, 2025

After a two-year legal battle, High Court Judge Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng found both Etiqah and Ambree guilty.

They were jointly charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, read together with Section 34, which deals with common intention. The charge carries a prison term ranging from 30 to 40 years.

Additionally, Ambree was sentenced to 12 strokes of the cane. Etiqah was exempted from caning under Section 289 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which protects women from corporal punishment.

Throughout the trial, both defendants attempted to shift blame onto each other.

DPP pushes for death penalty

Although the mandatory death penalty was abolished in 2023, Deputy Public Prosecutor Dacia Jane Romanus urged the court to impose the death penalty.

She argued that the case had not only shocked Sabahans but the entire nation, and must be met with the full weight of the law.

“The victim had sought honest work with the couple during the pandemic but was instead subjected to daily torment, denied basic rights, and robbed of her life. The digital evidence not only corroborated the abuse but also revealed the accused persons’ chilling intent to record and preserve her suffering.”

The DPP also reminded the court of the condition of the victim’s body, describing it as “so severely deteriorated.”