Jobless man claims trial to machete possession, criminal intimidation

MIRI: An unemployed man charged with possessing a machete and criminal intimidation was freed on a RM8,000 bail and two local sureties after he pleaded not guilty in a Sessions Court here yesterday.

Mohd Apis Kamaruddin, 22, from Kampung Madinah, Suai was charged under Section 6 (1) of the Explosive, Corrosive and Dangerous Weapon Act 1958 (Amended 2014).

The accused who allegedly had in his possession a 69- centimetre long machete faces a sentence of between five and ten years and whipping if found guilty.

The machete was found under the car driver’s seat.

He allegedly committed the offence at 7.50pm on May 17 on a road in Manong Ulat, Niah.

He also faces a criminal intimidation charge under Section 506 of the Penal Code which carries a seven-year jail term or fine or both if found guilty.

The accused allegedly committed the offence on one Rosli Kamaruddin by trying to run over the latter with his vehicle and had taken a machete from his house at 5pm on May 17 at a Ramadan bazaar at Ngu’s Junction, Niah.

Earlier, the prosecuting officer Inspector Mohd Khairi Mohd Noor applied for a new date for management of the case as the accused had pleaded not guilty.

Judge Steve Ritikos allowed the application and set June 14 for case management while the trial is set for Oct 29 to 31 this year.