Jailed for attacking Umno man

Retail assistant gets 12 years despite accomplice trying to take the blame

KUALA LUMPUR: A retail assistant was jailed 12 years for the attempted murder of Kepong Umno Youth chief Datuk Norizan Ali despite his accomplice trying to take the blame for the crime.

Ampang Sessions Court Judge Manira Mohd Nor ruled that Mohd Haswan Hashim, 22, had failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.

Mohd Haswan had claimed trial to the attempted murder of Norizan, while tow truck driver Mohd Azril, 28, pleaded guilty at the start of the case in November last year.

On the grounds, the judge said it appeared as if Mohd Azril had attempted to align his testimony with Mohd Haswan’s to make it seem as if Mohd Haswan was not aware of the plan to attack the Umno Youth chief.

“It was arranged too neatly to show that the accused (Mohd Haswan) was not involved,” said Manira, pointing out that there were several inconsistencies despite the suspected perjury attempt.

Norizan, who appeared in court to give his victim impact statement, showed the scars on his hand and arm where he was slashed, as he explained how the attack had caused him permanent physical harm.

He said the incident had also tarnished his image, derailing his political and business career after rumours spread about the reason he was attacked.

Mohd Haswan’s lawyer Mohd Zarif Osman later applied for a stay of execution pending the appeal against the Sessions Court decision, but it was denied.

On Nov 9 last year, Mohd Azril was sentenced to six years in prison by the Ampang Sessions Court after he admitted to committing the offence in front of Norizan’s house in Jalan Cahaya 2 here at 2.30am on Sept 24 the same year.

According to the statement of facts from Mohd Azril’s case, he had driven to Taman Dagang, Ampang, with an accomplice and waited for Norizan to return home.

When Norizan came out from his car, Mohd Azril came up behind him and hit him on the head with the hilt of a parang.

For the next few minutes, Norizan was kicked and slashed repeatedly, before he managed to run into his house to call for help.

Norizan was later taken to Ampang Hospital.