KUCHING: A local man was sentenced to five months in prison by the Magistrate’s Court here today (Sept 8) for committing a criminal assault against a corporal-ranked police officer last August.
Lim Chee Wui, 33, pleaded guilty to a charge read out by the interpreter in front of Magistrate Zubaidah Sharkawi.
According to the charge, he was accused of trying to attack a corporal-ranked police officer and obstructing the victim from performing his duty in a restroom at a bus terminal at Jalan Penrissen, around 10.10 am, on August 31.
Therefore, the accused was charged under Section 353 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of two years or a fine, or both, if found guilty.
The court ordered the accused to start serving the prison sentence effective today (Sept 8).
According to the case facts, the complainant was a police officer who was temporarily assigned to that terminal and was going to take a shower in the downstairs restroom.
As the complainant was about to enter the restroom, suddenly a man tightly embraced him from behind and demanded his sling bag.
The complainant shouted loudly, identifying himself as a police officer, but the accused refused to release his grip from the complainant’s neck.
The accused tried to pull the complainant into the restroom, but the complainant resisted, resulting in a scuffle between them, forcing the complainant to draw a pistol from his sling bag and point it at the accused.
Consequently, the complainant successfully detained the accused with the assistance of other officers on duty.
Upon inspection of the accused’s body, several items were found in his right trouser pocket, namely two straws and a small bottle believed to be used for consuming drugs.
The accused’s urine test returned positive for the drug type “syabu” (methamphetamine).
Prosecution officer Inspector Nur Shafiqa Nyaie Ilin urged a heavy penalty on the accused as a lesson.
