Man gets 8 years, 5 lashes for robbery

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KUCHING: A jobless man has been sentenced to eight years in jail and ordered to be given five lashes of whipping by

Hasbi being escorted at the courthouse.

the Sessions Court here yesterday after he pleaded guilty to a robbery charge.

Judge Amelati Parnell imposed the sentence on Mohamad Hasbi Misseli, 34, after taking into consideration his mitigation plea, nature of the offence, public interest as well as submissions made by the prosecutor.

The custodial sentence was ordered to take effect from yesterday.

Hasbi admitted that he had snatched a gold necklace belonging to a woman and when committing the crime two years ago he used a pair of scissors to threaten the 61-year-old victim.

The offence was committed in front of Asajaya sports complex at about 8.20am on March 25, 2013.

Deputy public prosecutor Stella Augustine Druce told the Court that the victim was manning a stall selling petrol at a roadside when a man riding a scooter bike approached her.

The incident happened when she went inside the store to get some change after she had refuelled the bike and received payment from the accused.

At the same time, the accused followed her inside and took the pair of scissors from a table and pointed it at her neck while telling her to take off her necklace. When she refused, he quickly grabbed it and fled from the scene.

The accused was identified by the victim during an identification parade. It was also learnt that the bike he used when committing the crime belonged to his wife.

The accused also led the police to a goldsmith in Kota Sentosa where he sold the jewellery.

During mitigation, the father of two told the judge that he was the sole breadwinner for his family. He also said he had a heart problem and showed the Court the scar from a surgery he went through.