SIBU: A 36-year-old man was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment and two strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court here on Tuesday (July 7) after pleading guilty to voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon during an altercation at a rented room last month.
When the charge was read and explained to the accused, Patan Jumput from Song, through an interpreter, he indicated that he understood the charge and the consequences of entering a guilty plea.
He was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Begawan Runong, 34, using a shovel.
The offence was committed at about 7pm on June 28 at a rented room on the first floor of the United Motor Trading Co building along Jalan Lanang here.
Section 326 of the Penal Code provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, and also makes offenders liable to a fine or whipping upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, on June 28 at about 7pm, at the scene of the incident, the complainant witnessed his elder brother, Patan and Begawan fighting after they consumed alcohol together.
As a result of the incident, the victim sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the emergency ward of Sibu Hospital for medical treatment.
Police launched an investigation after receiving a report regarding the incident.
On the following day at about 9.50pm, a party of police led by ASP Mohd Adzmei Ahmad detained the accused at Jalan Kampung Nyabor.
Investigation revealed that a misunderstanding had arisen between the accused and the victim, during which the victim made certain remarks that angered the accused.
Subsequently, the accused struck the victim with a shovel found at the scene, causing the victim to sustain injuries and lose consciousness. Bloodstains were found on the shovel.
The victim was confirmed to have sustained grievous injuries, namely skull fracture, mildline occipital fracture, mandible fracture and maxillary wall fracture.
During mitigation, the accused appealed for a lighter sentence while the prosecution urged the court to impose an appropriate punishment in view of the gravity of the offence, the injuries suffered by the victim and the need to safeguard the public interest.
The case was prosecuted by deputy public prosecutor Cynthia Emmelda Jerry before Sessions Court Judge Musyiri Peet.
The accused, who was unrepresented, was ordered to serve the sentence from the date of his conviction.
