KUCHING: A farmer from Sibu yesterday escaped the gallows but received an 18-year jail sentence after the Court of Appeals allowed his appeal against the original conviction for causing the death of an Indonesian man six years ago.
Mohd Azmi Robert Abdullah, who shed tears of relief upon hearing the outcome, will have the custodial sentence take effect from Oct 26, 2009 — the date of his arrest.
The unanimous decision was made by a three-judge panel comprising Datuk Balia Yusof Wahi, Datuk Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim and Datuk Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim.
Earlier, defence counsel Orlando Chua told the court there was no motive of murder in the case by the appellant.
He said it was normal for the people to carry a gun and parang when going around or to their farms.
Azmi was found guilty of causing the death of Yudas Tadiampang at 11pm on Oct 24, 2009 at a logging camp along the Bintulu-Sibu road.
His original charge was under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
The appellate court yesterday agreed that Azmi had unintentionally caused Yudas’ death and reduced the charge to Section 304 of the Penal Code for manslaughter.