Man jailed 12 months for assaulting wife in Kuching

KUCHING (March 3): The Magistrates’ Court here on Tuesday sentenced a 56-year-old man to 12 months’ imprisonment for slapping and kicking his wife after she failed to respond to his calls.

Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali convicted Nen Sani on his guilty plea to a charge under Section 323 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 326A of the same Code.

Section 323 provides for imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction.

Section 326A stipulates that if the offence is committed against a spouse during a valid marriage, the offender may face up to double the maximum sentence prescribed under the relevant section.

Nen was charged with intentionally hurting his 56-year-old wife at a rented house on Jalan Datuk Paduka Sitom, Kampung Muhibbah here at about 11am on Feb 14.

According to the facts of the case, the victim lodged a police report after being assaulted by her husband, which led to his arrest on Feb 28.

Investigations revealed that the incident occurred because the victim did not realise the accused was calling her while she was washing dishes in the kitchen, causing him to become angry.

A medical report confirmed that the victim sustained fractures to her left seventh and eighth ribs, multiple bruises around the right eye area, and blisters on her upper and lower limbs.

In separate proceedings, Nen was charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for amphetamine and methamphetamine abuse at Kuching District Police Narcotics Crime Investigation Department at about 3.45am on Jan 26, 2024.

He was fined RM3,000, in default ten months’ imprisonment, by Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan and was ordered to undergo two years of supervision under the National Anti-Drugs Agency.

Deputy public prosecutors Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazly and Ahmad Fauzulutfi Suriani appeared separately for the prosecution, while Nen was unrepresented.