Corpun file 23829

The Borneo Post, Kuching, 16 December 2011, p.13

Three teenagers get jail, cane for gang robbery

GUILTY: The three accused leaving the courtroom after the proceedings yesterday.

KOTA KINABALU: Three teenagers were sentenced to six years' jail and ordered to be whipped once by the Sessions Court here yesterday for gang robbery.

High Court deputy registrar, Zulkifli Abllah who sat as a Sessions Court judge meted out the sentence on Romanus Rafi, 18, Mohd Shukri Sulaiman, 21, and Alexander Anton Sangah, 19, after they pleaded guilty to the joint charge.

The trio admitted to robbing a 57-year-old man of jewelleries, a hand watch, a laptop, and two cell phones altogether worth RM10,000 using a knife.

They committed the offence at a house in Kampung Lumatak, Membakut about 8.30pm on Nov 2.

Romanus, Mohd Shukri and Alexander were jointly charged under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping on conviction.

The facts of the case stated that while the victim and his wife were in their house, they heard someone greeting them.

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When they opened the door, they saw three unknown men who pointed a knife at the couple and asked them to keep silent. The three men then entered the house and took the said items before fleeing.

They were arrested by police the next day following a police report lodged by the victim.

In pleading for leniency, the trio, who were unrepresented by any lawyer, informed the court that they regretted what they had done. Romanus and Mohd Shuki also told the court that they have to look after their mothers who were sick.

Meanwhile, Alexander informed the court that he was the sole breadwinner of the family and has to take care of his siblings.

Prosecuting officer ASP Sabrina Jinius, however, pressed for a heavy sentence to be imposed on all the accused as they had committed a serious offence involving armed robbery.

She said the court should take into consideration the public interest and rampancy of such cases before passing sentence.

Copyright 2010-2011 BorneoPost Online. All Rights Reserved.

Corpun file 23831

The Borneo Post, Kuching, 22 December 2011

Gold necklace snatcher gets seven years

KUCHING: A man who snatched a woman's gold necklace and pendant last June landed behind bars for seven years, and will be given three lashes by the Sessions Court here.

Accused Nazaruddin Ahmad, who appeared calm when the decision was delivered by judge Timothy Finlayson Joel pleaded guilty to an alternative charge under Section 394 of the Penal Code for snatch theft.

The Section provides for a jail term of up to 20 years with a fine or whipping upon conviction. He was originally charged with gang robbery on an amended charge under Section 395 of the same code, but the Court yesterday discharged him not amounting to acquittal.

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Nazaruddin, 20, with one person still at large snatched a gold necklace and love-shaped pendant with the letter J from a man at Taman Malihah at about 1.30pm on June 22 this year.

Initially he committed the offence with alleged co-accomplice -- his heavily pregnant wife -- who has been freed from the offence.

It was learnt that Nazaruddin, riding a motorbike with his wife, had stopped in front of the complainant's house to buy vegetables.

Nazaruddin pulled the complainant's necklace, and there was a struggle during which the complainant was injured on the neck, left hand and left leg.

The father of three who was not represented by any lawyer told the Court he was the breadwinner of the family, and had to take care of elderly parents.

DPP Samira Khalili appealed to the Court to impose a deterrent sentence as the number of snatch thefts was rising, and the seriousness of the offence and heavy sentence imposed could send a stern warning to any potential offender.

Nazaruddin's jail term took effect yesterday.

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