Farmer acqui ed of hurting two children with machete

KOTA KINABALU: A 68-year-old farmer was acqui ed from two charges of causing grievous hurt to his two children with a machete.

Sabidang Rangkata was discharged and acquitted by the Sessions Court here yesterday a er his son retracted the police report lodged against him.

The son, who is the complainant of the case, told judge Elsie Primus that he made the decision willingly and he pitied his father.

He also said he looked at the ma er only as an accident.

However, Elsie reminded the complainant that according to the police report, he was drunk when he came home and had a quarrel with the accused, despite his sister’s a empt to stop it, which led to the incident.

“This incident was caused by you. Do you want to come home drunk again?” asked Elsie and the complainant answered that he would not repeat a similar mistake in the future.

On the first count, Sabidang was accused of hurting his 22-year-old son using the machete at a house at Kampung Rantai Rosok, Kota Belud at 8.30pm on November 15.

For the second count he was alleged to have committed a similar offence against his 15-year-old daughter at the same place and time.

The alleged offences were framed under Section 326 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and liable to a fine or whipping, upon conviction.

Meanwhile, Sabidang who has a hearing problem, smiled a er a Dusun interpreter explained to him regarding the case.

The court also said the accused’s bail was not refunded as his RM5,000 bail was undeposited.

Throughout the proceeding, one prosecution witness testified.

Deputy public prosecutor Rustam Sanip acted for the prosecution while the accused was not represented.