Chai is escorted by a policeman from the courtroom after sentencing.
KUCHING: The Sessions Court here yesterday sentenced a self-employed man to 15 years in prison and five strokes of the rotan after he pleaded guilty to causing grievous hurt to a community leader last year.
Chai Mui Thai was convicted under Section 326 of the Penal Code before Judge Timothy Finlayson Joel.
He admitted committing the offence on Nov 9, 2016 at around 12.50am at Kenyalang Shopping Centre here.
According to the facts of the case, the complainant and victim Penghulu Tan Tuan Woo was at his shop when Chai entered from the rear door.
He suddenly attacked the victim from the back by beating and stabbing him using a knife.
The knife was still in the victim’s back when he arrived in hospital for treatment.
In passing the verdict, Timothy said none of the accused’s mitigation would stop him from passing a deterrent sentence as a lesson and also as a reminder to the public of the consequences of taking the law into their own hands.
The judge said he must give priority as the victim is a community leader selected by the people.
He also ordered the accused’s custodial sentence to take effect from the date of his arrest, which was on the same day the offence was committed.
It is understood that the incident occurred due to a misunderstanding between the accused and the victim.