SANDAKAN: A 23-year-old Indonesian man was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday for possessing a knife in public.
Din Nasir pleaded guilty before Magistrate Mohamed Zairi Zainal Abidin for the offense under Section 6 (1) of Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Dangerous Weapons Act 1958 which carries a maximum punishment of two years’ imprisonment and liable to whipping upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, Din was arrested on October 28 by a police team led by Inspector Suddin Tjinkee during an Ops Cantas Khas operation at around 9pm in front of Bandar Maju Mile 1.5 near here.
During the arrest, Inspector Suddin saw the suspect throw a knife into a drain nearby.
Based on investigations, the police found a 29cm knife that resembled a ‘keris’ in the drain.
Din admitted to carrying the knife with him, stating that he was keeping the weapon for self protection.
The suspect was then detained at the police station here.
Prosecuting Officer (PO) ASP Tan Hiap Wah told the court that the accused should be sentenced to a punishment equivalent to his offence.
Magistrate Mohamed Zairi then sentenced Din Nasir to eight months of imprisonment and stated that the suspect had no reason to carry a weapon for self protection as Din failed to explain why he felt that he was in danger.