KOTA KINABALU: A local security guard was jailed a total of six years by the Sessions Court here for robbing a woman and impersonating a policeman.
Judge Duncan Sikodol imposed the sentence on Sawal Muhimin @ Muimin, 43, after the latter changed his plea of not guilty to one of guilty when the case came up for continuation of trial yesterday.
The prosecution had already called five witnesses to testify against the accused.
Duncan sentenced Sawal to five years’ jail for the first charge of robbing 21-year-old Sharon Ivy Mahidal Dailin of a laptop computer, a shoulder bag and an internet modem worth RM1,300 at Lorong Merpati 1, Taman Merpati in Penamapng about 3.30pm on March 10.
Meanwhile, for the second charge of impersonating a policeman and showing handcuffs to the same woman at the same time and place, Sawal received another one year’s jail.
The first charge under Section 392 of the Penal Code provides for a jail term of up to 14 years and is also liable to a fine or whipping on conviction.
The second charge under Section 170 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine, or both, on conviction.
The court ordered the custodial sentences to run consecutively.
In pleading for leniency, Sawal, who was unrepresented by any lawyer after his previous lawyer had discharged himself from representing him during the trial, told the court that he has to support his family.
He also asked forgiveness from the court and the family of the victim and promised not to commit a similar offence in future.
When asked by the court what his job was prior to the arrest, the accused said that he was a security guard and a People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) member.
Deputy public prosecutor Luke Ressa Balang however, pressed for a heavy sentence stating that the accused had committed two serious offences.
He submitted that the court should take into consideration the gravity and the seriousness of the offence as well as public interest before passing sentence.
In passing sentence, Duncan said the accused as a security guard and also a Rela member, had the duty to take care of the safety of the public but instead he had committed robbery.
The facts of the case stated that the accused, who was riding a motorbike, approached the victim and later introduced himself as a policeman and showed a pair of handcuffs to her.
Later, the victim handed over her belongings to the accused after the accused threatened her.
Sawal was arrested by the police following a report lodged by the victim on March 2.
During the arrest, the police discovered the handcuffs and also a belt with the police logo on its buckle from the accused.
The police also seized all the items taken from the victim during a check at the accused’s house in Menggatal.
Police investigation revealed that the accused had impersonated a policeman and claimed that he was on patrol at the area.
The accused then robbed the woman of her belongings, threatening to harm her if she refused to hand over the items.