Kota Kinabalu: A 41-year-old man was sent to prison for eight years and ordered to receive four strokes of the cane for causing injury to a college student while robbing her.
Indy Ibnul pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan, to the charge against him.
Indy had voluntarily assaulted the 21-year-old female student while robing her of her handphone and a handbag at 6.40am on April 15 this year at the Kedai Dobi Y&Y Laundry, here.
He was charged under Section 394 of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of up to 14 years, and whipping, on conviction.
The court ordered Indy to serve the jail sentence from the date of his arrest.
Indy who was not represented, asked for leniency.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Bryan Francis urged the court to impose a heavy sentence on the grounds that it was a serious offence.
The court heard that on the said day while the victim was alone at the Y&Y Laundry preparing to enter the examination hall, a man riding a motorcycle arrived and entered the lobby.
The man later identified as Indy then snatched the mobile phone from the victim’s hand and pulled the bag she was carrying.
He immediately fled toward the motorcycle parked beside the laundry and the victim chased after him and grabbed him in a headlock while he was on the motorcycle to prevent him from escaping.
The court heard that Indy accelerated the motorcycle while the victim was still holding onto his neck. He attempted to dislodge the victim by elbowing her while she was being dragged.
A struggle ensued on the moving motorcycle, causing Indy to lose control and resulting in an accident.
Indy then proceeded to kick and stomp on the victim’s abdomen and head before fleeing the scene.
The motorcycle used by Indy was left at the scene, and the victim’s belongings were successfully recovered.
The victim was referred to the hospital and was confirmed to have sustained injuries.
Further investigation reveled that the motorcycle had been lent to Indy.
On April 18 this year, Indy was successfully tracked down and a struggle occurred between him and the police and a minimal force was used to arrest Indy.
