MIRI: A jobless man was yesterday sentenced to four years’ jail by the Sessions Court here for causing grievous hurt by severing three fingers of another man.
Judge Marutin Pagan imposed the sentence after considering several aspects including the guilty plea and mitigation of the accused, facts of the case and public interest.
Joebline Benard, 30, from Penasu Igan, Sibu was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum imprisonment of 20 years and liable to a fine or whipping upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, the accused was found with a machete confronting Ronnie Chua, severing three of his left fingers.
Joebline committed the offence at Lot 10059 and Lot 10060, Lutong-Permyjaya Road here at 7pm on Dec 22 last year.
Police investigation revealed that Joebline owed the victim RM30, provoking the latter to demand he settle it.
Two weeks prior to the incident, the accused gave the victim RM50 to settle the debt, the latter promising to return the balance of RM20.
On the day of the incident, Joebline in a drunken state, met the victim and demanded he return the balance. Instead of paying up, the victim argued with the accused, sparking a fight, during which the accused used a machete to sever the victim’s left fingers.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Syakil Zulkifli prosecuted.