Kota Kinabalu: A 36-year-old rubber tapper suffering from schizophrenia, was sentenced to a year’s jail and fined RM1,000 or amonth’s jail for committing mischief by burning his neighbour’s shoe rack.
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus handed the sentence to Laimus Yampat who changed his plea during his trial on Wednesday.
Laimus committed the offence by burning the shoe rack belonging to Peter Timbun, 46, at 10am on June 24, 2022 at a house in Kg Terintidon, Kota Belud.
The offence under Section 435 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 14 years’ jail, and a fine, on conviction.
The court ordered Laimus to serve the jail sentence from the date of his arrest on June 27, 2022.
During mitigation, counsel Kimberly Ye who acted for Laimus, asked for a lenient sentence, saying that Laimus who is native, is suffering from schizophrenia and his next review at Hospital Mesra in Bukit Padang is on April 11.
Ye informed the court that Laimus, a first offender, was remorseful and had apologised to the complainant and his family members who are also his neighbours.
She also told the court that the complainant and his family are still on good terms.
Ye said Laimus who was already under remand for nine months, promised not to commit any offences in future.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mas Izzaty Lokman urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence on the grounds that Laimus’ act had caused fear and loss to the complainant and his family.
She submitted the loss suffered by the complainant was around RM750 and prior to the incident, Laimus also threw sticks and stones at the complainant’s house which had caused fear to the complainant.
The court heard that Laimus had burnt his neighbour’s shoe rack after he heard voices.
Investigation also revealed that during the incident, Laimus had confessed that he felt that his body was poked few times, caused him to throw things to the complainant’s house.
Laimus was arrested and referred to the emergency in Hospital Kota Belud for further mental observation and warded at the mental patient ward.
He was discharged from hospital and given the medicine.
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