KUCHING: The Magistrate’s Court here sentenced a local man to four years in prison for his role in the fatal beating of a hotel security guard in Batu Kawa — a case that went viral on social media two years ago.
Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali handed down the sentence to Bong Ying Hao, 31, after he pleaded guilty under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code.
If convicted, he can be sentenced to prison for a term of up to 10 years in prison, a fine, or both.
Bong was among 10 individuals involved in the attack, which led to the death of a 51-year-old local man. The incident occurred between 12.30 am and 1 am on Oct 30, 2023, at a hotel staircase in Batu Kawa.
According to the case facts, the victim’s employer discovered him severely beaten by a group of men. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries on Nov 1.
An autopsy confirmed that he died from blunt force trauma, likely caused by punches or blows with a blunt object.
Investigations revealed that the cause of the incident stemmed from a misunderstanding where Bong was searching for his wife, whom he believed had been harassed by the victim.
He then called friends from a nightclub, leading to the assault.
A police report was lodged and a series of arrests followed, with Bong being detained on Feb 18 at around 4.05pm.
Investigation found that Bong was involved in beating the victim en masse on the night of the incident, despite knowing that their actions could be fatal.
Deputy public prosecutor Adriana Maisarah Mohd Farid prosecuted the case, while Bong was represented by counsel Jong Yee Ling.
