Contractor manager jailed four years for causing death of scrap metal collector in Bintangor

SIBU (March 13): The High Court here today sentenced a manager of a contractor company to four years’ imprisonment for the offence of causing the death of a scrap metal collector without intent to kill, two years ago.

Judge Wong Siong Tung also imposed a one-year jail term on the 67-year-old defendant, Tang Kee Tan, for causing injury to the victim’s friend.

Wong ordered the defendant to serve both prison sentences concurrently, starting from the date of his arrest April 5, 2023.

“In determining the appropriate sentence, the court has considered both aggravating and mitigating factors. The most serious aggravating factor is that the incident resulted in the loss of human life.

“The use of a firearm also significantly increases the seriousness of the offence,” he said while delivering the verdict.

At the same time, he said the court also took into account that the incident occurred under circumstances where the defendant believed his property was being stolen, that it happened in darkness, and that the act was not premeditated.

Tang had previously faced charges of causing the death of Wong Soon Guan, 37, at the side of Jalan Ulu Siew Bakong, Meradong, Bintangor, on April 5, 2023 around 1am, an offence punishable under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

The defendant was also charged with discharging a firearm and injuring Wong Soon Woung, 29, at Jalan Ulu Siew Bakong, Meradong, an offence punishable under Section 37 of the Firearms Act 1960.

However, on March 6, the High Court found the defendant guilty of causing death without intent to kill under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mark Kenneth Netto, in his submissions before sentencing, told the court that the case falls under the highest category of punishment provided for offences under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code and Section 37 of the Firearms Act 1960.

He said a heavy prison sentence was necessary to reflect the seriousness of the offence, recognise the loss of human life, and send a clear and strong preventive message against the misuse of firearms, as well as taking the law into one’s own hands.

Tang was represented by lawyer Rosli Gapor.