SIBU: Four men were today sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment and five strokes of rattan each by the Sessions Court here for committing gang-robbery.
Cassidy, 27, of Sri Aman; Nelson, 37, of Song; Joseph, 29, of Mukah and Richard, 40, from Sungai Durin Kanan Sibu pleaded guilty to the joint charge before Sessions Court Judge Marutin Pagan.
All the accused understood the charge read and explained to them, and the consequences of maintaining their plea of guilt.
They were charged with committing gang robbery with another person still at large on Mering Jeno, 57, and at the same time had caused injury to him by using a blunt object at bus stop in Jalan Khoo Peng Loong between about 7pm and 7.15pm on October 19.
The accused were indicted under Section 395 and 397 of the Penal Code which provides for an imprisonment term which may extend to 20 years and liable to whipping upon conviction.
According to the fact of case, on Oct 19 at approximately 8.45pm, the complainant brought his uncle named Mering Jeno to receive treatment at Sibu Hospital due to injuries sustained during the robbery.
According to the victim, on the same day at about 7.10pm when he was at a bus stop, he was robbed by five unknown men.
He was beaten up by one of them using a blunt weapon and was approached by four other men who took his bag containing his belongings including cash RM13,000, a mobile phone, ATM card and identity card.
Later on, the complainant lodged a police report.
On the following day at about 1.30am a team of police led by Insp Hairul Hussin arrested three suspects at Jalan Wong Nai Siong and seized several items from them.
They were subsequently detained for further investigation.
On the same day at about 1.35pm, a police team led by Insp Kumareswaran Murugan arrested another two suspects at the compound of Eng Ann Teng Tua Pek Kong temple in Jalan Temple, here.
Police seized from them several items and detained them for further investigation.
Shortly after that, the police team arrested another person at Jalan Chambers.
Police investigation revealed that on Oct 19 around 7pm to 7.15pm, the victim was robbed by four accused persons and another person still at large named “Ason” at the bus stop in Jalan Khoo Peng Loong.
The victim was robbed of his bag containing money and his belongings which included a mobile phone.
Meanwhile, the person who is still at large named “Ason” had assaulted the victim using a blunt weapon while four other accused were at the scene assisting him committing robbery on the victim.
As a result of the incident, the victim suffered injuries.
Medical examination conducted on the victim found that he sustained superficial abrasion wound over his forehead and linear laceration wound over right anterior chest.
Further investigation at the scene, had revealed that there is a CCTV camera at a shop nearby the scene which had captured the whole incident of the four accused and another person who is still at large named “Ason” committing robbery on the victim.
Judge Marutin ordered all the accused to serve the sentence from the date of their arrest on Oct 20.
All the accused were unrepresented by legal counsel.
