KUCHING: An unemployed man has been sentenced to eight years in prison and three strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court for inflicting severe injuries on his deaf uncle, who is a Person with Disabilities (PWD), by assaulting him with a machete.
Sahnizam, 27, pleaded guilty to two charges read in front of Judge Afidah Abdul Rahman.
In the first charge, he intentionally caused severe injuries on his 43-year-old uncle by striking the victim’s head with a machete. He was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 326A of the same act.
For this offence, Judge Afidah imposed an eight-year prison sentence and three strokes of the cane.
In the second charge, Sahnizam was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 326A of the same act, for intentionally causing hurt to his 63-year-old mother by slapping her face.
Judge Afidah sentenced the defendant to one year in prison for the second charge.
He was accused of committing this offence in a house in Kampung Tabuan Hilir at around 3.30am on Aug 26.
Additionally, Judge Afidah ordered the defendant to serve his sentences concurrently from the date of his arrest on Aug 26.
Based on the facts of the case, during the incident, the complainant, who is the defendant’s sister, was sleeping in her room when she was awakened by a knock on the door.
She was informed by her uncle that the defendant had attacked him with a machete while he was sleeping in the living room.
A review of the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage conducted by the complainant showed the defendant striking the victim’s head. Additionally, the defendant slapped his mother’s face when she tried to intervene.
As a result of the incident, the victim suffered injuries to the back of his head and face.
The complainant immediately reported the incident to the police, leading to the defendant’s arrest on the same day.
The motive behind the defendant’s actions is unknown.
The prosecution was handled by deputy public prosecutor Iezzah Iburdanisha Ibrahim, while the defendant was not represented by a lawyer.
