KOTA KINABALU – A vegetable seller was sentenced to nine years’ jail and five strokes of the rotan for committing armed gang robbery two years ago.
Wan Mohd Afzannizal Mohd Isa, 39, committed the offence when the Covid-19 Movement Control Order was in force.
Sessions judge Elsie Primus imposed the sentence after the accused pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 395 of the Penal Code, which was read together with Section 397 of the same, providing for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.
The accused, who was unrepresented, admitted to robbing a 19-year-old shopkeeper of RM6,000 at Kedai Runcit H&M in Jalan Rampayan Laut, Kota Belud on Oct 5, 2020, at 8.30 am.
He committed the offence together with another accused Siti Rubayah Jafdin, 31, who had claimed trial to the charge.
The court ordered Wan Afzannizal to serve his jail sentence from the date of his arrest on Oct 7, 2020.
According to the charge sheet, Wan Afzannizal brandished a sharp weapon at the victim and took cash that was kept in a drawer before fleeing.
The shopkeeper got the registration plate number of the car driven by Wan Afzannizal, and lodged a police report, leading to his arrest.
During mitigation, Wan Afzannizal asked for leniency saying that he needed to take care of his 72-year-old mother.
He also informed the court that he had previous convictions for drugs and theft.
Deputy public prosecutor Mas Izzaty Lokman urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence considering the trauma suffered by the victim.
Source: NEW STRAITS TIMES
