SIBU: A 34-year-old man who assaulted his girlfriend by punching, kicking and striking her with a padlock after she refused to have a meal with him was sentenced to a total of 1-year jail term by the Magistrate’s Court here today (July 23).
Magistrate Romario Jonoi sentenced David Sulau from Song to six months’ imprisonment for each of the two charges, ordering both sentences to take effect from the date of his arrest on June 11.
David pleaded guilty to causing hurt and voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon.
Under the first charge, he admitted causing bodily pain to Diana Tanyit aged 30 at the third floor of Swan Station Bistro Café along Lorong Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce at about 10 pm on May 23.
The offence was framed under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both.
For the second charge, he admitted voluntarily causing hurt to the same victim using a padlock, which was deemed a dangerous weapon, at the ground floor of the same premises and at about the same time.
The offence, under Section 324 of the Penal Code, carries a jail term of up to 10 years, or a fine, whipping, or any combination of those punishments.
According to the case facts, the accused entered a room on the third floor of the premises and discharged a fire extinguisher towards the victim before punching and kicking her.
The victim was then dragged down the staircase, where the accused hurled a padlock at her, striking her on the nose and causing it to bleed. The assault was witnessed by another individual.
Police later seized the fire extinguisher and the padlock, together with two keys, during investigations at the scene.
Medical examination confirmed that the victim suffered soft tissue injuries to her left arm, left forehead and left shoulder, as well as a laceration wound on her nose.
Investigations revealed that the accused and the victim were in a relationship, and the assault was triggered after the victim refused his invitation to have a meal together, causing him to become angry.
David was arrested on June 11 at the premises along Lorong Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce. During the arrest, police also seized a Gucci handbag and a knife found inside it.
The prosecution represented by ASP Sokolinkam Changgan informed the court that the evidence, including eyewitness testimony, medical findings and the recovery of the padlock believed to have been used in the assault, established offences under Sections 323 and 324 of the Penal Code.
David, who was unrepresented pleaded for leniency to the judge in passing the sentence.
