Kota Kinabalu: The High Court here on Friday sentenced a 44-year-old farmer to 35 years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane for murdering his uncle after a drinking session.
Judicial Commissioner Dayang Ellyn Narisa meted out the sentence to Octavian Sahabat after ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt against him.
Octavian was convicted under Section 302 of the Penal Code of murdering Sairin Molondoi, 48, by the roadside in front of a house in Kg Gaur, Kota Belud, between 12.30am and 1.20am on May 31, 2024.
The court ordered the custodial sentence to run from the date of Octavian’s arrest on May 31, 2024, following a trial in which 18 prosecution witnesses and only the accused testified.
During mitigation, assigned counsel Adelina Adnan sought the minimum 30-year jail term as her client was a first offender caring for his mother, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Samira Khalili pressed for a deterrent sentence of between 35 and 40 years’ jail and whipping.
