Kota Kinabalu: A 35-year-old man who caused serious injury to a woman while she was in the middle of performing her prayers and robbed her, was sentenced to 10 years’ jail plus two strokes of the cane.
Zanri Nur, who has several previous convictions, pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus on Friday.
He had assaulted the woman while robbing her at 1.50pm on July 28 this year at the prayer space in Putatan Food Court, here.
Zanri was charged under Section 394 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping, upon conviction.
The court ordered him to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest.
Before passing sentence, the court asked Zanri whether he had previous convictions, to which he replied that he had two cases under Section 324 of the Penal Code for causing injury and two drug-related offences.
The court stressed that Zanri had robbed and injured the woman while she was in the middle of performing prayers, and at the time, he was also under the influence of drugs.
In mitigation, Zanri, who was not represented, asked for leniency, saying he needed to care for his elderly parents. He admitted his wrongdoing and apologised.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Shafeerah Mad Iskim urged the court to impose a heavier sentence, citing the seriousness of the case, the trauma suffered by the victim, and public interest.
Nurul also argued that the crime posed a threat to society as it was committed in a public place.
The court heard that while the victim was performing her prayers, she stopped and tried to leave after noticing an unknown man entering the prayer space.
The man, later identified as Zanri, prevented her from leaving and pointed a knife at her. The victim screamed for help but was punched until she collapsed and lost consciousness.
When she regained consciousness, she found that her bag containing documents, RM250 in cash, a handphone, as well as her gold necklace and earrings, all valued at RM2,500, were missing.
Following a police report, Zanri was arrested.
Zanri Nur, who has several previous convictions, pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus on Friday.
He had assaulted the woman while robbing her at 1.50pm on July 28 this year at the prayer space in Putatan Food Court, here.
Zanri was charged under Section 394 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping, upon conviction.
The court ordered him to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest.
Before passing sentence, the court asked Zanri whether he had previous convictions, to which he replied that he had two cases under Section 324 of the Penal Code for causing injury and two drug-related offences.
The court stressed that Zanri had robbed and injured the woman while she was in the middle of performing prayers, and at the time, he was also under the influence of drugs.
In mitigation, Zanri, who was not represented, asked for leniency, saying he needed to care for his elderly parents. He admitted his wrongdoing and apologised.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Shafeerah Mad Iskim urged the court to impose a heavier sentence, citing the seriousness of the case, the trauma suffered by the victim, and public interest.
Nurul also argued that the crime posed a threat to society as it was committed in a public place.
The court heard that while the victim was performing her prayers, she stopped and tried to leave after noticing an unknown man entering the prayer space.
The man, later identified as Zanri, prevented her from leaving and pointed a knife at her. The victim screamed for help but was punched until she collapsed and lost consciousness.
When she regained consciousness, she found that her bag containing documents, RM250 in cash, a handphone, as well as her gold necklace and earrings, all valued at RM2,500, were missing.
Following a police report, Zanri was arrested.