High Court throws out Indonesian’s appeal

SIBU: The High Court here today (July 17) rejected an appeal by an Indonesian national for a reduction of his 30-year jail sentence and 12 strokes of whipping for armed robbery.

Sunan Sikk, 30 was earlier sentenced to 30 years imprisonment and 12 strokes of whipping by the Sessions Court. The court had found him guilty of abetting another person to exhibit a firearm in the commission of a robbery of two handphones in the possession of Monaliza Ajai.

The incident took place at a sundry shop at the Mukah-Balingan-Selangau junction in Mukah district on Sept 6 last year.

In his judgement, Justice Wong Siong Tung pointed out that the imprisonment sentence of 30 years imposed by the Sessions Court for the offence under section 4 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties Act 1971, to which the appellant pleaded guilty, is the minimum imprisonment sentence as prescribed by the law. Hence it was not manifestly excessive.

Regarding the 12 strokes of whipping imposed by the Sessions Court, Justice Wong said that having read the record of appeal, considered the need for a deterrent sentence and the public interest as well as the mitigating factors, the Court did not find any valid ground to interfere with the sentence imposed by the Sessions Court. 

“Consequently, the appellant’s appeal is dismissed,” Wong added.