MIRI: The Sessions Court yesterday sentenced a chicken-wing hawker to a record-breaking 23 years’ imprisonment for causing the death of a crane operator in Miri last December.Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud imposed the sentence after Adam Belon, 46, of No. 154, Jalan Masjid, Taman Sri Dagang, Bintulu, pleaded guilty as charged.
Adam changed his plea to guilty when he was produced in court for further mention, and was convicted accordingly. The subsequent jail sentence is the longest ever imposed in Sarawak.
He was charged with committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 30 years’ imprisonment.
In passing the sentence, the judge stressed that the offence was very grave as it led to the loss of a life and the penalty should serve as a deterrent to others and the general public.
The court heard that at 2.45am last Dec 6, a resident of Jalan Harmoni 3E, Tudan heard his ducks quacking loudly.
He went out to see what was happening and was shocked to see the body of a man sprawled over a ditch. The right side of the body and head was submerged in water. He immediately asked a neighbour to get him to Lutong Police Station to report the matter.
The dead man was later identified as Madong Baji, 59, a crane driver.
On Dec 7, the police arrested a suspect at 9.45am at his house in Bintulu.
Further investigation revealed that on Dec 5, Madong, his wife, a daughter and four grandchildren, travelled in their Perodua Kancil to a wedding reception at a house about five minutes away.
Upon arrival, they all entered the house except Madong who stayed outside to drink and enjoy karaoke with other guests.
The accused saw the deceased wearing golden bracelets and later intended to rob him.
At 11pm, Madong’s wife and other family members went home, leaving him to continue enjoying himself.
Then about 1am, the guests decided to retire for the night and Madong decided to spend the night at a friend’s house nearby.
On his way there, Adam attacked him and robbed him of his gold bracelet, handphone and silver ring. Adam then dragged his body and dumped it in the ditch at Jalan Harmoni 3E.
Pathologist Dr Jamil Dol Kadir in his postmortem report concluded that the cause of death was due to bleeding and drowning.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Shahidah Muslimah Roslan prosecuted while the accused was unrepresented.