Religious Teacher Fined For Strangle Attack
By Rol Ezam

Bandar Seri Begawan - A 32-year-old religious schoolteacher who tried to strangle his colleague was fined $2,000 or serve three months in jail in default when the court found him guilty of assault.

The defendant Raduan Hj Junaidi appeared before Magistrate Muhammad Faisal bin Pehin Dato Hj Kefli at the Magistrate's Court yesterday.

He was charged with the offence, which occurred on November 15 two years ago at the Religious Teacher's office in Kg Pulaie where the defendant hurt 30-year-old Hj Mohammad Hj Yahya, the victim.

He claimed trial and denied causing hurt to his colleague.

During the trial the prosecution produced five witnesses including the victim and the school headmaster. Attorney General Chambers Prosecuting officer Syed Azmal Syed Ali prosecuted.

Raduan claimed the other man intimidated him and spied on him. However he presented no evidence. He also failed to cross-examine the victim.

The victim, a religious teacher in the same school in Kg Pulaie, testified that he was on that day doing his work in the teacher's room with other teachers. He saw the defendant step in and mumble something in anger.

The defendant then threw a glass and then pointed to him and said, "You are the same" and took a half-filled Pepsi bottle and threw at him. It struck the plastic rack and broke it.

As the victim stood up and asked the defendant why he did that, the defendant told him to shut up. On hearing that he sat back.

While the victim continued doing his work, the defendant walked to him and suddenly tried to strangle him with one hand which resulted in him falling backwards. The victim knocked on the glass cabinet and broke it. The defendant held the victim's neck and pressed him to the ground with force causing him back pain while his knee struck the table.

The victim pushed the defendant away with his left leg and others came to separate them. The defendant also warned the victim by saying "you be careful, when you come outside, you will get it".

The Police Prosecutor had earlier told the court that this case was serious in nature where the defendant, who had neither any reason nor was he provoked, had voluntarily caused hurt to a harmless and respected religious teacher. (Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin)

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