Corpun file 25155 at www.corpun.com
The Borneo Post, Kuching, 29 January 2014, p.2
Jail, rotan for unlawful possession of firearms
By Jane Moh
SIBU: A 30-year- old man was yesterday sentenced by the Sessions Court here to two years' jail and six lashes after he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a shotgun and bullets.
Nicholas Joseph Bujang initially pleaded not guilty to the charge framed under Section 8 of Fire Arms Act (Increased Penalties) 1971. He changed his plea yesterday. The section carries a maximum jail term of 14 years and minimum six strokes.
He was caught for the offence at a house at Mile 9, Oya Road at about 4am on Sept 28, 2013. He was arrested at about 6pm the same day.
His counsel Darren Ling told the court that Nicholas was the sole breadwinner of his family.
Besides his wife and two young children, aged seven and one, his parents were also staying with him, Ling said.
He said Nicholas worked as a security guard at an oil palm plantation, earning a monthly salary of RM900.
"It was his first offence. The shotgun and bullets were legally owned by his father," Ling said, adding that Nicholas had the shotgun for self-defence.
He said in the morning prior to his arrest, Nicholas had chased out intruders who stole something from his house.
Ling said Nicholas was cautious about intruders after learning that an Indonesian colleague was shot dead by intruders.
