KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here yesterday dismissed a local man’s appeal against his conviction and sentence of seven years’ jail for causing the death of his 79-year-old father-in-law.
Justice Ravinthran N. Paramaguru affirmed the conviction and sentence imposed by the Sessions Court here on Sinun Bukusoi, 51.
The court also dismissed a cross-appeal by deputy public prosecutor Uma Devi Balasubramaniam for the said custodial sentence to be enhanced.
In his decision, Ravinthran held there was no reason for him to interfere with the conviction and jail term handed down by the lower court.
However, the judge allowed Sinun’s application for a stay of the execution pending appeal against the decision at the Court of Appeal and extended the latter’s bail.
The Sessions Court had on Oct 21, 2011 sentenced Sinun to seven years’ jail after finding him guilty of causing the death of Osman @ Garungup Abdullah at a house in Kg. Datong, Pitas at about 7.30pm on July 30, 2006.
The offence under Section 304 (a) of the Penal Code carries a maximum 30 years’ jail and is also liable to a fine on conviction.
Counsel Wotti Junius acted for Sinun.
In another case, a man will spend less time behind bars after the High Court here ordered his 10 years’ jail sentence imposed by the Sessions Court here for robbery to start from August 10, this year.
The said custodial sentence imposed on Indy Ibnol was initially ordered to run consecutively with the custodial sentences of his two other criminal offences of eight and 12 years’ jail respectively for causing hurt while committing robbery and gang robbery.
The 12 years’ jail sentence was ordered to run after Indy had served the eight years’ jail which started from May 8, this year.
Apart from the custodial sentences, the lower court also ordered Indy to be whipped nine times.
In yesterday’s case, Indy was appealing against the 10 years’ jail sentence and applied for it to run concurrently with the two other custodial sentences.
The Sessions Court had on August 10, this year imposed the sentence on Indy after finding him guilty of robbing one Woong Choon Lai of a cell phone and RM7,000 cash at a car park in Block F, Bundusan Villa Apartment, Jalan Bundusan.
He was convicted under Section 392 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 14 years and is also be liable to a fine, or whipping upon conviction.
The appellant was unrepresented.