Robberies, carjackings: Long jail terms for duo

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Nicholas and Melvin (both in shorts) being led away from the courtroom after their sentencing yesterday.

KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court here yesterday sentenced two men  to 15 years’ and 13 years’ jail, respectively, for various robberies and carjackings committed in different districts in the state.

Judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh also ordered for Nicholas Augustine Tung Jun Houw Jr, 31, to be whipped 12 times and Melvin Gilbert Ibu, 32, to be whipped 10 times after they pleaded guilty to all the charges against them.

The duo committed various armed robberies in a group and individually, while Melvin was also responsible for several carjackings and vehicle thefts committed between Jan 1, 2012 and Dec 24, 2013.

The offences were committed in the Kota Kinabalu city, Penampang, Kepayan, Kota Belud, Tamparuli and Tambunan, involving a total of 12 victims.

A common pattern of offences as deduced from facts in the court hearing showed the duo targeted victims who were either entering or leaving their vehicles.

In the first case, the duo faced a joint charge of robbing a 60-year-old woman of RM3,500 at a sundry store in Kampung Nambazan, Penampang, with an accomplice who is still at large on Oct 11, 2013, while they were armed with a machete.

The court was told that the victim in this case was a distant relative of Melvin, and that the accused persons wore masks during the incident around 2.33pm.

The charge under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code carries up to 20 years’ jail and whipping, on conviction.

In three other cases, Nicholas admitted to committing armed gang robberies at a sundry store in Kg Bantoi, Tamparuli on Nov 22, 2013; by the roadside at Signal Hill here on Nov 9, 2013 and by the roadside opposite Suria Sabah shopping mall.

In these cases, he  robbed a man, 26, of RM300 and jewelry; a man, 29, of a backpack containing RM8,000 in cash, a pen drive and a T-shirt; and a Chinese woman tourist of a Rolex watch, three smart phones, RM4,000 in cash, and a Toyota Vios car.

Nicholas also admitted to having single-handedly robbed a 27-year-old woman of her Perodua MyVi on Oct 22, 2013, at the Kepayan low-cost housing area, and a woman, 61, of her Toyota Vios, on Nov 7, 2013 near KK Plaza shopping mall.

The charges under Section 392/397 of the Act carry up to ten years’ jail, and a fine, upon conviction.

Meanwhile, Melvin admitted to retaining a stolen Toyota Avanza belonging to a 32-year-old woman at a motel in Tambunan on May 5, 2012. The vehicle was reported missing on Jan 17, 2012.

The charge under Section 411 of the Penal Code carries up to 5 years’ imprisonment, and liable to a fine, on conviction.

Melvin also pleaded guilty to stealing a Toyata Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton on Jan 1, 2012 and Dec 24, 2012, respectively, in two areas in Kota Belud, namely Kg Kiau and Kg Tempasuk.

In both cases, he had taken advantage of the goodwill offered by drivers of both cars when he approached them on the pretext of needing a lift.

He stole the Toyota Hilux when he approached the male victim, a Filipino, asking for a lift to Tamparuli and drove the car away when the accused stepped out for a drink.

In the same manner, he had approached the Mitsubishi Triton’s driver for a lift and drove the vehicle away when the victim stepped out of the vehicle to accompany his young son who needed to pee.

The Triton driver had picked him up when Melvin was seen stranded by the side of the road with a Mazda that he claimed had broken down in the middle of his journey.

The vehicle theft charges under Section 379A of the Penal Code carry up to seven years’ jail, and liable to a fine, upon conviction.

Melvin also admitted to robbing a 61-year-old local taxi driver of his vehicle by the roadside of Jalan Minintod, Penampang on March 9, 2013, with three others still at large.

He had entered the taxi, pretending to be a passenger and in the midst of the journey forced the taxi driver out of the car, and escaped with it.

Lastly, he and another still at large robbed a 49-year-old local woman of her Toyota Rush and valuables, estimated at RM60,000, in front of a workshop premises, in Putatan, on Oct 11, 2013.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin pleaded for a deterrent sentence against the duo, taking into consideration public interest.

Both Nicholas and Melvin seemed nonchalant when the charges were read against them.