KUCHING: The High Court here yesterday allowed an appeal made by a teenager who was sentenced to three years’ jail for assaulting his schoolmate, and set aside a Magistrates’ Court’s decision.
Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum who presided over the appeal hearing ordered the 18-year-old accused to be released on a bond of good behaviour for three years with his father as the surety as well as to do 100-hour community service.
On May 28, the teenager pleaded guilty to have assaulted his schoolmate inside a bus in Serian about 3.30pm on Sept 26, 2010.
The Magistrate’s Court in Serian convicted and ordered him to undergo three years’ rehabilitation at a correctional school – Sekolah Tunas Bakti.
His defence counsel subsequently filed an application to appeal against the decision as well an application to stay of execution pending appeal to the High Court.
In coming to the decision, Malanjum advised the accused to enroll at a technical school in Kuching and to promise to obey his parents.
‘I don’t want you to continue to wash cars anymore as you might be influenced by peers to be involved in negative activities.”
The accused also asked for forgiveness from the parents at the court as instructed by the judge.
DPP Musli Abdul Hamid prosecuted while Bernard Philip represented the accused.