Foreigner gets tongue-lashing for repeatedly changing plea
KUCHING: An Indonesian man, who kept changing his plea in the Sessions Court, received a tonguelashing yesterday.
Sessions Court Judge Timothy Finlayson Joel told the accused, Supriadi, 34, to think carefully after the latter could not make up his mind.
Supriadi, who appeared without a lawyer, had earlier admitted to two counts of robbery after the charge sheet was read to him by the interpreter.
However, halfway through the proceedings, he changed his mind and decided to claim trial.
He later changed his plea back to guilty and when Timothy asked him if he was sure about his decision, Supriadi actually asked the judge to decide for him.
Before Timothy set Jan 28 for further mention of the case, he again reminded Supriadi to think things through before making a decision.
Supriadi faces two charges under Section 395 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 387 of the same Code, which provides for up to 20 years in prison and caning.
Under the first charge, he allegedly robbed a woman of her bags, handphone, jewellery, RM3,000, and gold bar, at Jalan Moyan Utama, Batu Kawah on March 11 last year around 3am.
Under the second charge, he allegedly committed a similar offence at Taman Sentah View, Mile 17, Kuching-Serian Road around 4.30am on March 7 last year.
In both incidents, he was allegedly armed with knives and a sickle.
Supriadi allegedly committed the offence with two other persons who are still at large.