Man gets five years’ jail for possessing karambit

KUCHING: The Sessions Court today sentenced a local man to five years behind bars for possessing a karambit (an Indonesian curved knife resembling a claw) without a permit in front of a restaurant in Taman Central.

The 52-year-old pleaded guilty before Judge Iris Awen Jon to the charge under Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958.

If convicted, he could be sentenced to prison for a term of up to 10 years as well as whipping.

He committed the offense at a public car park in front of a restaurant along Jalan Rock, Taman Central around 2.45am on June 19.

Based on the case facts, a crime prevention patrol team stopped a vehicle, driven by two suspicious men, in a public car park in front of a shop.

Inspections led to the discovery of a green karambit found in the driver’s seat and it was found that he was carrying a dangerous weapon in a public place without a valid permit.

Deputy public prosecutor Ruvinasini Pandian prosecuted the case while, the man was unrepresented by counsel.