Kota Kinabalu: A 29-year-old plantation worker who caused the death of his colleague following an argument over a RM20 debt last year was sentenced to 18 years’ jail by the High Court on Monday.
Judicial Commissioner Ratanah Devi Yusof Perumal handed down the sentence to Risdi Baharuddin after he pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, following the acceptance of his representation.
Risdi committed the offence against Jiecy Rondian between 6pm and 8pm on Jan 30, 2025, at the workers’ quarters of Ladang Koperasi Kelapa Sawit Anak Anak Pantai Barat, Jalan Ulu Bongawan, Papar.
The charge under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code provides for imprisonment of up to 30 years and a fine upon conviction.
Risdi was originally charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and at least 12 strokes of the cane if the death penalty is not imposed.
The court ordered Risdi to serve his jail sentence from the date of his arrest and to be referred to the Immigration Department upon completing his sentence as he had no identification documents.
According to the facts of the case, police at the Bongawan Police Station received information at about 8.10pm on Jan 30, 2025, about a fight at the workers’ quarters involving a man believed to have been stabbed.
Investigations revealed that Jiecy was a plantation worker who lived at the quarters with his wife, while Risdi worked at the same plantation and lived at nearby quarters with his wife.
On the day of the incident, an argument broke out between Risdi and Jiecy over RM20 that Risdi had borrowed from Jiecy’s wife.
Jiecy taunted Risdi about the money, causing the argument to escalate.
Several people at the quarters intervened and advised both men to return to their respective homes. The situation briefly calmed down.
However, the argument resumed, prompting Risdi to enter his house and retrieve a wooden-handled knife measuring about 27cm from his room.
Although his wife tried to stop him, Risdi left the house carrying the knife and headed towards Jiecy’s home.
At the time, Jiecy was standing in front of his house with his wife.
Upon seeing Risdi charging towards her husband, Jiecy’s wife, fearing for his safety, hugged him from behind.
Risdi then stabbed Jiecy several times in the body.
Jiecy’s wife heard repeated stabbing sounds and felt her husband’s body being struck by the knife.
Following the attack, Jiecy, who was covered in blood, collapsed.
Despite his injuries, Jiecy managed to get up and retrieve a sickle from the kitchen area before going outside again.
Another plantation worker, identified as Toto, caught Jiecy as he was about to collapse and laid him on the ground.
Jiecy was subsequently found dead at the scene, while Risdi fled the workers’ quarters.
On Jan 31, 2025, police located and arrested Risdi in the Kampung Ulu Lumagar area in Bongawan.
During his arrest, police seized the knife, which was kept in a purple plastic bag at his left waist.
A post-mortem examination conducted by a forensic pathologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital here at 2.15pm the same day revealed that Jiecy had sustained three stab wounds to the chest.
One of the wounds, to the lower left chest, had penetrated his heart to a depth of at least 12cm.
He also sustained a slash wound to his right arm, as well as several abrasions and bruises.
The forensic pathologist confirmed that the cause of death was a “stab wound to the heart” inflicted by an object with a pointed end and sharp blade.
The injury caused severe bleeding, resulting in Jiecy’s death.
Investigations established that Risdi had retrieved the knife from his room and stabbed Jiecy several times following their argument over the RM20 debt.
The stabbing caused a fatal injury to Jiecy’s heart.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Lovely Natasha Charles appeared for the prosecution, while counsel Mohamed Zairi Zainal Abidin represented Risdi.
