KUCHING: Two local men were sentenced to four years in prison by the Magistrate Court here today for causing the death of a security guard in front of a hotel in Batu Kawa last October.
Magistrate Zubaidah Sharkawi sentenced Ashley Austin Chin, 25, and Albert Chin Quan Yan, 22, after they pleaded guilty to charges under Section 304 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code.
According to the charges, they, along with several others, were accused of unintentionally killing a 51-year-old man in front of a hotel in Batu Kawa, between 12.30 am and 1.00 am, on October 30.
Zubaidah ordered both defendants to start serving their prison sentences effective today.
According to case facts, at the time of the incident, the complainant, who was the employer of the deceased, found that the victim had been beaten by several unidentified men.
The victim was then taken to the hospital for further treatment but was declared dead two days after the incident on November 1.
A post-mortem was conducted confirming that the victim died from blunt force trauma injuries, like being hit with a blunt object or punched with hands.
The incident occurred due to a misunderstanding by the first accused (Ashley), who was looking for his wife at a hotel and brought several of his friends who were drinking at a nightclub.
A police report was filed for investigation and further action, leading to the arrest of all the accused.
Meanwhile, at the same court, six teenagers aged between 15 and 18 years involved in the case also pleaded guilty to the same charges.
Zubaidah then allowed all the teenagers involved to be released on a bail of RM5,000 each with a parent as a guarantor.
The court set December 7 for the submission of social and character reports.
The prosecution was led by Prosecuting Officer Inspector Nur Shafiqa Nyaie Ilin, while all the accused were unrepresented by a lawyer.