Odd-job worker jailed 15 years for attempted murder of three

KUCHING: A 46-year-old odd-job worker was sentenced to 15 years in prison after the Sessions Court here found him guilty of attempting to murder three men by firing a shotgun at them in 2024.

Judge Noorhisham Mohd Jaafar imposed the sentence against Lo Siaw Lung, with the imprisonment from his date of arrest on December 20, 2024.

The court found that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt after calling six witnesses during the full trial.

The defence also failed to raise any reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.

Lo was convicted under Section 307 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years for attempted murder.

The amended charge stated that Lo had, at about 12:30 am on July 8, 2024, at the rear of a supermarket building along Jalan Kuching-Serian Mile 19, Siburan, fired a gun in circumstances which, had the three victims died, would have amounted to murder.

The court heard that Lo had allegedly fired a shotgun loaded with shotgun pellets from the rear bonnet of a Mitsubishi 4×4, injuring all three victims at the scene.

During mitigation, Lo pleaded for leniency, saying he was the sole breadwinner of his family and needed to care for his 85-year-old father, wife and four children.

He also claimed that he had been hired by someone to kill the three victims.

Deputy Public Prosecutor, Adriana Maisarah Mohd Farid, urged the court to impose a heavier sentence, citing the severity of the offence, the use of a firearm, and what it described as a lack of remorse.

The prosecution also submitted that Lo was not entitled to any sentencing discount as he had not pleaded guilty at the first instance, with the case having been registered since 2024.

The accused was unrepresented during the proceedings.