Filipino gets 9 years for causing grievous hurt to countryman

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KOTA KINABALU: A Filipino was jailed nine years by the Sessions Court here yesterday for causing grievous hurt to his fellow countryman with a machete seven months ago.

Judge Ismail Brahim meted out the sentence on 35-year-old fisherman Ramli Abdul after he pleaded guilty to his charge yesterday.

Ramli admitted to causing grievous hurt to another fisherman, Dodoi Hamid, 38, by slashing his left hand with the machete outside an unnumbered house in Kampung Lok Urai, Pulau Gaya here at 12.25pm on March 26.

He was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine or whipping, on conviction.

The facts of the case stated that Nolhada Abdul, 26, went out of her house and saw Ramli, her brother, slashing Dodoi’s left hand with the machete.

Nolhada’s husband came to help Dodoi but failed to prevent Ramli from attacking the victim.

Ramli fled the scene after seeing the victim could not defend himself from his attack.

The victim, whose left hand was cut due to the attack, was brought to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.

Ramli was detained by police the next day at 9pm at Kampung Sungai Damit, Tuaran and a machete, which was believed to have been used in the attack, was recovered from him.

In pleading for leniency, Ramli told the court that he has four children under the care of his father while his wife and mother had died.

Deputy public prosecutor Nartiah F Mirchelle Sambatan, however, pressed for a heavy sentence be imposed on the accused as he had committed a serious offence.

She said Ramli had used a weapon and due to the attack, Dodoi suffered permanent disability and added that the court should take into consideration the public interest and gravity of the offence before passing sentence.

In passing sentence, Ismail ordered Ramli to serve the jail terms from the date of his arrest and thereafter to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving the sentence.