KUCHING: An unemployed man was yesterday sentenced a total of 12 years in prison and 10 strokes of the rotan after he pleaded guilty to two snatch thefts committed on the same day last week in Matang.
Sessions Court judge Alwi Abdul Wahab meted out the sentence on Zainuddin Narawai, 32, from Tanjong Kelaso in Sadong Jaya.
For the first offence, Zainuddin admitted robbing a 26-year-old prosecution officer at her Taman Yen Yen house in Matang around 10.30am on Nov 22 and received seven years behind bars and five strokes of the rotan.
In less than an hour, he snatched an elderly woman’s handbag in front of Blok J Synergy Square, Jalan Matang.
He was sentenced to five years’ jail and five strokes of the rotan for the second offence.
For the first charge, the complainant was about to close the front gate of her house when Zainuddin arrived on a motorcycle with his accomplice Ederis Saifuddin, 29, from Taman Sukma in Petra Jaya.
Ederis, who was the pillion rider, opened the car door and grabbed the woman’s handbag.
In her attempt to stop him, the victim pulled Ederis’ shirt causing her to fall to the ground and injuring both arms as she was dragged on the road while her handbag fell on the ground.
Ederis also pleaded guilty to the charge and received seven years’ jail with five strokes of the rotan.
For the second case, a 70-year-old woman was inside her car when Zainuddin pretended to ask for directions and then grabbed her handbag containing her medicine, fruits and RM70.
Two persons later made a citizen’s arrest and handed Zainuddin to the police. Ederis was arrested at about 7pm on the same day. Both offences came under Section 395 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum 20-year jail term and whipping.
Alwi ordered the custodial sentences of both accused to take effect from the date of their arrest and for Zainuddin’s jail term to run consecutively.
Inspector Austin Patrick Angkon prosecuted.