KUCHING: An odd job worker from Betong was yesterday sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and to be given eight strokes of the rotan for possessing a revolver last year.
A Sessions Court here found Joshua Beti Chong, 37, guilty as charged and convicted him under Section 8 of the Firearms Act 1971.
The Act provides for up to 14 years’ imprisonment and whipping.
His co-accused Wat Rantai, 32, from Miri was sentenced to four years’ jail and seven strokes of the rotan for knowing that Joshua carried the weapon complete with five live bullets.
Judge Timothy Finlayson Joel found Wat guilty as charged and convicted him under Section 9 of the same Act.
The duo was arrested around 6.30pm on Sept 7, 2012 in front of a car workshop in Kota Sentosa.
Timothy said both accused failed to raise reasonable doubt on the prosecution case.
He doubted Joshua’s words that he came to Kuching to meet Wat to find a job, and found the evidence glaring as their DNA samples were found on the revolver.
He described the duo as “birds of a feather that flock together” as both had common intent.
They also had previous convictions for possession of weapons.
The judge said both accused had made up stories in their mitigation pleas so had not learned from their past convictions.
He observed an alarming number of cases of dangerous weapons and murders these past few months throughout the nation.
Joshua was convicted for keeping a shotgun while Wat convicted for carrying a machete apart from burglary few years ago.
Counsel Daren Ling appeared for Joshua while Wat was not represented.
DPP Poh Yih Tinn prosecuted.