Kota Kinabalu: A 31-year-old Filipino was sentenced to five months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court here for assaulting his fellow countryman over an unpaid gold debt.
Labourer Al Raffy Ibnohashim pleaded guilty before Magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali to voluntarily causing hurt to one Asfandyar on Aug 19, this year, at 9pm, behind the MR DIY shop in Inanam town.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Akaash Singh informed the court that the incident stemmed from a dispute over a RM4,200 gold sale.
Asfandyar had sold gold to Raffy’s wife, who agreed verbally to repay the amount in daily instalments of RM20.
However, no payment had been made since January, prompting Asfandyar to confront Raffy on Aug 19 at the said place and time.
During the confrontation, Raffy punched Asfandyar in the right eye, causing bruising, and struck his right shoulder with a motorcycle helmet.
He then threatened the victim not to report the incident to the police, warning that he would come looking for him if he did.
Fearing for his safety, Asfandyar fled and lodged a police report at the Inanam Police Station.
Acting on the report, Inanam police arrested Raffy for further investigation.
Raffy had committed an offence under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of one year’s imprisonment, or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, on conviction.
The court ordered him to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest and to be referred to the Immigration Department thereafter.
Meanwhile, in another court, five men were penalised for having syabu.
Asbil Mokhtar, Latipo Abd Halim, Gain Asmad, Epi Omar and Azman Zaidi pleaded guilty separately before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin to having syabu weighing between 0.03gm and 0.04gm.
Gain and Epi were each jailed nine months, while the rest were handed eight months jail each.
They were each charged under Section 12 (2) of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952, which provides for a fine of up to RM100,000 or up to five years jail or both on conviction.
Inspector Yusdi Basri prosecuted.
