KUCHING: A man escaped the gallows after the Federal Court on Tuesday (Nov 18) substituted his death sentence with 35 years’ imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane for shooting dead his elder brother nine years ago.
A three-member panel led by Justice Datuk Azizah Nawawi unanimously set aside the death sentence previously imposed by the Sibu High Court on Ringgie Ampas, 47, after allowing his final appeal.
“The death sentence is set aside and replaced with 35 years’ imprisonment from the date of arrest (May 21, 2017) and 15 strokes,” ruled Azizah, who sat with Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang and Datuk Azimah Omar.
Ringgie was initially sentenced to death by the Sibu High Court on Feb 27, 2019 after being found guilty of murdering his brother, Entili Ampas, 45, at a longhouse in Kampung Sebintek between 11am and 11.30am on May 21, 2017, under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
He later appealed against the conviction, but the Court of Appeal on Oct 19, 2022 upheld both the conviction and sentence.
During the appeal, court-appointed defence counsel Louis Jarau told the court that a representation had been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers seeking exemption from the death penalty following the enforcement of the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 (Act 846).
He said the amendment provides for imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years, along with no fewer than 12 strokes, and urged the court to impose 30 years’ jail and 12 strokes on the appellant.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Amril Johari did not object to the representation, but proposed a sentence of not less than 33 years’ imprisonment and 12 strokes.
According to earlier news reports, Ringgie shot his brother from about 100 metres away following an argument at the longhouse.
The dispute reportedly began when the appellant tried to stop the victim from hitting his daughter. Ringgie then went into a room, took a shotgun and fired at the victim.
He later fled on a motorcycle and disposed of the weapon in a nearby forest.
A police report was lodged shortly after and Ringgie was arrested, while the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
