Phone snatcher gets five years’ jail, cane

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SANDAKAN: The Sessions Court here yesterday sentenced a 28-year-old immigrant to five years’ jail and whipping for snatching a woman’s mobile phone.

Abdul Kadir Akum pleaded guilty before judge Egusra Ali to two offences under Section 392 of the Penal Code for robbery, and under Section 6 (1) (C) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not possessing any legal self-identification documents.

Both charges carry imprisonment of up to ten years and liable to a fine and maximum imprisonment of five years respectively.

According to the facts of the case, on November 3, a 28-year-old woman who was the victim, was holding her mobile phone while waiting to cross the road at the traffic lights near Bandaran field, Jalan Singapura here.

Abdul suddenly snatched her phone from behind, and ran towards the Bandaran field. The woman quickly pointed at the running suspect to the other pedestrians who witnessed the incident.

The pedestrians, joined by members of the public, chased the suspect and surrounded him before beating him up.

When the police reached the scene, they found the suspect badly injured and the mobile phone returned to the victim.

The accused suffered injuries on his eyes, nose and on his left cheek following the incident.

Judge Egusra sentenced Abdul to five years’ jail and four whippings for the first offence, and another three months’ jail and one whipping for the second offence, effective after serving the first punishment.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Mohd Fillanny Siji.