Filipino jailed for robbing teenage student of handphone

A Filipino was sentenced to nine years jail by the Sessions Court here for robbing a female teenage student of her handphone.

Judge Azreena Aziz imposed the sentence on the accused, Aukasa Jonior, 43, an IMM13 holder, after he pleaded guilty as charged yesterday.

He robbed the 17-year-old girl in front of a coffee shop in Manggatal near here on the morning of October 11.

The offence, framed under Section 392 of the Penal Code, provides for a jail term of up to 14 years and shall also liable to a fine or whipping, upon conviction.

Based on the facts, the teenage student was waiting for the school bus in front of a coffee shop when suddenly an unknown man, who was later identified as the accused, approached her.

The accused suddenly snatched her handphone away from her hand and fled.

The girl then lodged a police report on the same day and the accused was later arrested. An identification parade was made and the teenage student was able to identify Aukasa as the accused and her handphone.

In mitigation, Aukasa, who was not represented, pleaded for leniency on the grounds that he has two children and old parents to support.

Deputy public prosecutor Siti Amirah Muhammad Ali replied that Aukasa had committed a serious offence which is rampant when he robbed a school student waiting for a bus. She therefore urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence on the accused.

The court also ordered the accused to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving the sentence.