KUCHING: The Magistrates Court here today (May 7) sentenced a 36-year-old unemployed man to a total of 17 months’ imprisonment for threatening and insulting his elderly mother during a violent outburst at their home.
Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan handed down the sentence on Joseph Sumbang after he pleaded guilty to two charges under Sections 506 and 509 of the Penal Code.
The accused was ordered to serve 14 months’ imprisonment for criminal intimidation and three months’ imprisonment for insulting the modesty of the victim.
Both jail terms are to run from the date of his remand on April 7.
According to the first charge, Joseph had threatened his 68-year-old mother, with intent to cause grievous hurt, during an incident at their house in Kampung Sungai Apong Baru, at about 9:30 pm on April 2.
For the second charge, he was accused of insulting the modesty of the victim by repeatedly spitting at her face during the same incident.
Facts of the case revealed that the accused became aggressive while arguing with the complainant, who is his biological mother.
During the altercation, Joseph reportedly spat repeatedly towards the victim’s face, punched the walls of the house, and struck the mattress where the victim was sleeping.
The court was told that such incidents had happened frequently, causing the elderly woman to live in fear and trauma as the accused would allegedly become violent whenever she refused to give him money or comply with his demands.
Joseph also threatened the victim by saying “jaga kamu nanti” while allegedly intending to cause harm to her.
The accused, who was said to be under the influence of drugs during the incident, also demanded the victim’s Realme mobile phone before leaving the house.
Fearing for her safety, the victim lodged a police report the same night.
Joseph was arrested by a police team from Kuching District Police Headquarters on April 3 at about 3:00 pm.
Investigations later revealed that the accused is the fifth of six siblings.
It was understood that the accused was believed to have repeatedly demanded money from the victim to buy drugs and would often threaten and abuse her whenever his requests were denied.
Deputy Public Prosecutor, Ahmad Fauzultfi Suriani, prosecuted the case while the accused is unrepresented.
