Duo jailed 10 years, whipped for armed robbery

KOTA KINABALU: Two jobless men were sentenced to 10 years’ jail plus one stroke of the cane each by the Sessions Court here yesterday for committing robbery on a man using a knife.

Sessions Court judge Azreena Aziz imposed the sentence on Abdullah Agani, 40, and Radit Abdullah, 31, after they pleaded guilty as charged under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code.

The two men had allegedly robbed Thie Ting Yau, 34, of his two handphones, a wristwatch, a laptop, a gold necklace, and RM500 and HKD4,000 in cash at a house in Lorong Taman Penampang at 3.30 am on April 20.

The indictment provides for a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping, upon conviction.

In mitigation, the duo, who was not represented, prayed for a lenient sentence on the grounds that they have family to support, including their aged mothers. They told the court that they were first-time offenders and promised not to commit the offence in future.

Prosecuting officer chief inspector Lim Swee Beng, however, pressed the court to impose a deterrent sentence against the accused persons.

Abdullah and Radit also received another five months’ jail and a stroke of the cane each by the same court for entering the State illegally.

The court ordered them to serve their jail sentences concurrently, starting from the date of their arrest and to be referred to the Immigration Department for their biometrics data to be taken before being deported to Indonesia.