KUCHING: A local man escaped the gallows after the Federal Court commuted his death sentence to 33 years imprisonment for murdering his 25-year-old girlfriend yesterday (Sept 20).
A three-judge panel comprising Justices Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, Datuk Rhozariah Bujang and Datuk Nordin Hassan also ordered Salman Kassim, 31, to be given 12 lashes of the cane.
The court ordered him to serve the prison sentence effective from the date of his arrest on March 24, 2017.
Following the amendment to Section 302 of the Penal Code, the court agreed with court-appointed lawyer CM Sundram, who represented Salman, that the death penalty should be commuted to imprisonment based on mitigation and the facts of the case.
“We set aside the death penalty and replace it with 33 years in prison from the date of arrest and he will also be given 12 lashes of the cane,” ruled Abang Iskandar.
On June 10, 2020, the Kuching High Court found Salman guilty and sentenced him to death for killing the 25-year-old woman in a rented room at Jalan Penrissen between 1.30am and 3.30am on March 24, 2017.
Based on the facts of the case, Salman was arrested after confessing to stabbing his lover, who worked as a shop assistant at a commercial centre in Mile 4.
Salman admitted to stabbing the victim with a knife when she refused to have sex, as well as suspecting her of cheating with another man.
The woman died from injuries sustained in 11 stab wounds, including three in the neck.
As a result of the incident, Salman attempted to end his life by stabbing his stomach, neck and slitting his wrist only to run to a nearby convenience store to get help.
Deputy public prosecutor Mangaiarkarasi Krishnan prosecuted the case.
