Warrant of arrest for two absent accused

KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here yesterday issued a warant of arrest on two men after they did not turn up for their court hearings.

First, Tan Sri Richard Malanjum made the order on Jifrius Yamat, 30, after counsel Timothy Daut i nformed the court that his client was not present for the proceeding.

Timothy said that the defence was unable to contact Jifirus who was currently in Tenom.

Jifrius had been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and two strokes of the cane for raping a 13-year-old girl at a hotel in the district of Tenom on December 29, 2012 at around 11.30pm.

The offence, framed under Section 375(g) of the Penal Code, is punishable under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code which carries a maximum 20 years’ prison sentence as well as caning.

Meanwhile, i n the second case, the warrant of arrest was issued on a police inspector who was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for corruption.

The order was made on Shahidan Bakar, 59, after he too did not attend his appeal hearing.

Counsel Timothy who was also defending Shahidan, stated that his client could not be contacted.

On the first to the 15th counts the accused, who was a police inspector attached to the Kepayan Police Headquaters (PK), had allegedly falsified the statement claim of the police officers’ journey allowances at RM535, respectively to Sandakan and Tawau from Feb 4 to 10, 2009 at the IPK under Police Band branch on March 5, 2009.

The offence falls under Section 18 of the Malaysia AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24 of the same Act, and carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Both men will have their hearing on May 6.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, the same court set May 6 for the next hearing on the appeal of two men who were jointly sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment and two strokes of the cane for gang robbery.

The duo, Ferdenand Felix Jipony and Fernandez D Mathews, both 32, were represented by counsel Henry Gudid and assisted by counsel Tengku Fuad Ahmad.

The new date had been set as deputy public prosecuted Dominic Chew Ban Huat had not received the grounds of appeal.

Both men had been convicted and sentenced for snatching a bag on July 7, last year at a parking lot in Asia City at around 2.30pm.

The handbag belonged to a 27year-old woman and contained three cell phones, several claim receipts and two cell phone backup batteries.

Gang robbery is an offence framed under Section 395 of the Penal Code and is punishable with a maximum jail term of 20 years and includes whipping.