9 Years Jail, 12 Strokes For Robbery
By Rol Ezam

Bandar Seri Begawan - The High Court yesterday sentenced a 27-year-old local man to nine years imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane for robbery, assaulting a police officer and having a ‘parang’ at a public place.

Judge Dato Steven Chong found Hamde Haji Mohd Zaidi guilty on the three charges after the prosecution led by Dayang Aldila binti Hj Mohd Salleh, the Deputy Public Prosecutor, had called in 24 witnesses.

Hamde Haji Mohd Zaidi, who had previous convictions but a first offender on the three charges, said nothing when asked by the judge if he had anything to say in mitigation.

The judge first sentenced him to seven years with a maximum of 12 strokes of the cane for stealing $150 belonging to Teo Bee Choon. In committing the theft, he had voluntarily caused fear of instant hurt by pointing a toy gun to the 34-year-old woman.

He committed the offence on March 22 last year at about 1:30 pm at the Olive Tree Cooperation Sdn Bhd Office in Kampong Mentiri.

Under Section 392 of the Penal Code Cap 22, jail term could have been 30 years and 12 strokes.

For the second charge of assaulting a public servant, L/Cpl 3183 Lim Chee Siong, the judge sentenced him to two years in jail. Hamde Haji Mohd Zaidi assaulted the police officer by chasing him with a machete (parang) with intent to prevent or deter him from discharging his duty as a public servant.

He received another two years jail for having in his possession a machete (parang) at a public place.

However, Judge Dato Chong ordered for the sentence on the second and third charge to run concurrently but consecutive to the first charge with effect from the day he was remanded at the Jerudong Prison.

The second and third offence were committed on March 22 the same year at about 5:25 pm on an access road outside the compound of No. 15 Simpang 282-15 in Kampong Sungai Tilong, Jalan Muara. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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