Indonesian gets 36 months’ jail and RM2,000 fine for three charges

0

SIBU: An Indonesian man who faced three criminal charges was yesterday sentenced by the magistrates’ court to a total of 36 months’ jail and fine of RM2,000, in default two months’ jail.

Magistrate Ayuni Izzaty ordered the sentences to run concurrently with effect from the date of the man’s arrest on June 30.

For the first charge, Yosef Kesulai, 40, of Entikong, Indonesia was sentenced to 20 months’ jail and fined RM1,000 or one month’s jail for having 24 bullets, an offence under  Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960 which provides for a maximum penalty of seven years’ jail or a fine of RM10,000 or both.

For the second charge, he was sentenced to six months’ jail and fined RM1,000, in default one month’s jail for possessing housebreaking implements, thus violating Section 35(g)(ii) of the Minor Offences Ordinance 1958 that provides for up to six months’ jail and a fine of RM1,000.

For the third charge, he was sentenced to 10 months’ jail for retaining a stolen Proton Waja car, an offence that comes under Section 411 of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of between six months and five years and also a possible  fine.

All the offences were committed at a parking lot behind Tanahmas hotel about 3.15am last June 30.

According to the facts of the case, a team of police on crime prevention round stumbled on Yosef who was acting suspiciously at the parking area.

When they stopped his car, he tried to escape through the front passenger door but failed.

The police found that the car’s registration plate number was different from that shown on the road tax disc.

Among other things, they also found an assortment of housebreaking implements, bullets and four car registration plates bearing different numbers.

The man failed to produce any arms licence or permit for the bullets.

After testing for serviceability, the bullets were found to be in good condition.

The police also found the car to be the one reported missing on May 29.

Prior to passing sentence, Yosef pleaded for leniency saying he was the sole breadwinner of his family and implored for the three sentences to run concurrently.