Man jailed for robbery with toy gun

KUALA LUMPUR: An ex-grocery shop staff was crying profusely after being sentenced to three years in jail and one stroke of the cane by the Sessions Court here yesterday on a charge of robbing a convenience store using a toy gun last month.

Judia Emelia Kaswati Mohamad Khalid meted out the sentence against Ridznan Shah Desa, 30, after he pleaded guilty to committing the offence at KK Supermart, Bandar Manjalara, Kepong, here, at 3.45 am on Sept 26.

Emelia ordered the accused to undergo the jail sentence from the date of his arrest on Sept 26, and prior to the sentencing, she advised the accused to repent and not repeat the mistake in the future.

"I hope this is the first and the last time you go to prison, although you were desperate for not having enough money, there are many other jobs available in our country, in fact, foreigners who come to Malaysia also can become rich because they work. Next time if you think of committing a crime, just look at your wife and children... you want to feed them (with the money from the loot), is it halal? " she said.

The accused's wife and son who were present in the public gallery were also seen crying throughout the proceedings and they hugged the suspect after the case was over.

Ridznan Shah and another suspect still at large were charged with committing armed robbery against KK Supermart cashier, Muhammad Sameer Md Aminul Islam, 30, using a toy gun, under Section 395 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 397 of the same sentence which imposes maximum imprisonment of 20 years and whipping.

According to the facts of the case, the victim who was minding the payment counter was approached by the accused wearing a face mask before brandishing a gun at the latter, ordering him to open a cash drawer.

The victim gave the excuse he could not open it, and told the suspects to wait while he called his colleague at the back of the shop. Shortly afterward, a struggle ensued between the victim and the accused before the accused was caught by people passing through the front of the shop.