Kota Kinabalu: A rubber tapper, who assaulted his mother-in-law’s brother with a plank was jailed four years and ordered to be caned once, Monday.
Mathius Madatang, 33, pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus to causing grievous hurt to the 59-year-old man with the 2” x 2” plank at 7pm on July 23, this year, at a village in Kota Belud.
The victim suffered fractured skull and two other injuries as well as received five stitches on his head due to the assault.
Mathius had committed an offence under Section 326 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 20 years, and liability of a fine or whipping, on conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Tham Pou Jin informed the court that prior to the incident, the victim and five family members, including Mathius, were having a drinking session when an argument ensued between the victim’s nephew and Mathius.
The victim tried to stop them which angered Mathius who took the plank nearby and hit the victim’s head twice, the court heard.
Mathius was arrested by police on July 24 following a report lodged.
Unrepresented, Mathius requested for leniency on the grounds that it was his first offence and that he had four children.
DPP Tham pressed for a heavier sentence to serve as a lesson to Mathius and would-be offenders.
DPP Tham told the court that the victim was the older brother of Mathius’ mother-in-law and was trying to stop the quarrel between Mathius and his nephew.
Elsie ordered Mathius to serve the jail sentence from the date of his arrest.
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