KUCHING: A parolee escaped from his designated residence in search of employment to support his daily life in prison, was sentenced to five months in jail today by the Magistrate’s Court here for failing to comply with the conditions of a Licensed Prisoner.
Lee Kok Hu, 35, pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 46N(3) of the Prisons Act 1955, which was read by an interpreter before Magistrate Zubaidah Sharkawi.
According to the charge, he was accused of failing to comply with the terms of a license issued under Section 43(1) of the Prisons Act 1955 by not staying at the designated residence for two days, from January 9 to January 11, 2023.
He committed the offense at a designated residential building while undergoing a Parole Order at Jalan Matang Baru, Petra Jaya, around 8 am on January 9.
According to the case facts, the accused, who was on licensed release from prison starting December 14, 2022, until March 2, 2023, was found to have absconded from the supervision of the Kuching District Parole Office by leaving the designated residence.
He left the residence without permission from January 9 until a report was made on January 11.
A police report was filed for further action, which led to the arrest of the accused on January 11.
The investigation found that the accused failed to comply with the conditions of Licensed Prisoners, namely not being at the designated residence.
It is understood that he admitted to absconding from the residence to seek employment to support his living expenses.
The prosecution of the case was handled by Prosecuting Officer Inspector Nur Shafiqa Nyaie Ilin, while the accused was not represented by a lawyer.
