Woodcutter gets 20 years’ jail for causing friend’s death
KOTA KINABALU: A woodcutter was sentenced to 20 years’ jail by the Sessions Court here for causing the death of his friend two months ago.
Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamed ordered the accused, Jun Ben@Marong, 62, who was unrepresented, to serve his jail term from the day he was arrested on March 8.
Marong, who is a Filipino without identification documents, pleaded guilty to committing culpable homicide not amounting to the murder of Bobit, also a Filipino, in his 30s, at an unnumbered house at Kampung Longgom in Pitas.
In pleading for leniency, Marong said he had seven children to care for and that he had health problems.
Deputy public prosecutor Hafizah Zahidah Abdullah said the accused had committed a serious offence and had inflicted severe injuries on the victim.
According to the facts, Marong had been drinking “tapai” (local rice wine) on March 8 at 3pm with Bobit at the house.
At 8.20pm, a witness identified as Theresa, who was in the living room, heard Bobit confessing to Marong that he had sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law.
An argument broke out and the victim picked up a machete from the kitchen and tried to slash Marong, who then managed to grab the weapon. Marong was accused of inflicting slash wounds on Bobit. His body was found on the kitchen floor.
In another case, Judge Marlinah Ibrahim fixed May 24 for a decision against a farmer, charged with raping his daughter three years ago.
Deputy public prosecutor Rustam Sanip prosecuted while counsel Ari Nadzrah represented the 48-year-old accused.
The accused was on March 19 called to enter his defence
He had pleaded not guilty to a charge of incest under Section 376 (3) of the Penal Code.
He was alleged to have raped his then 13-year-old daughter in Kota Marudu in October 2015.