Corpun file 26362 at www.corpun.com
The Borneo Post (Sabah edition), Kuching, 30 March 2016, p.6
Gang robber gets four years, eight strokes
KOTA KINABALU: A 21-year-old man was jailed for four years and ordered to be given eight strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court here yesterday for committing gang robbery.
Almukri P. Ramli, who was brought before judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamed, pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 395 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.
He committed the offence with an accomplice, who is still at large, against a 23-year-old man outside a market in Sembulan here at 3pm on February 24.
In mitigation, the unrepresented accused prayed for leniency on the grounds that he is the sole breadwinner of his family as his father had died and now he is taking care of his mother and two siblings.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Khairuddin Idris urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence against the accused as gang robbery, which is a serious offence, is on the rise and the accused should be told of his mitigating factors before committing the offence.
Based on the facts of the case, a complainant lodged a police report two men, including the accused, had attempted to rob him of his iPad.
Initially, the two men approached the complainant at the market in Sembulan here and asked for some cigarettes.
Then, the two men followed the complainant and tried to take away the complainant's iPad while threatening him with a sharp object.
The complainant escaped and sought help from his colleagues outside ASEANA College. They fled after seeing the complainant's friends come to his aid.
On March 18, a man was arrested and identified as Almukri.
Meanwhile, Almukri received another 10 months' jail at the Magistrate's Court here for retaining a stolen mobile phone.
Magistrate Cindy Mc Juce Balitus imposed the sentence on Almukri after he pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 411 of the Penal Code.
The indictment provides for a maximum jail of five years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
He retained the stolen mobile phone along Jalan Sembulan in front of SMK Sembulan at 11.15pm on February 26.
