Speedy Batu Kawa robber gets 7 years’ jail, 7 lashes

KUCHING (Oct 23): The Sessions Court here today sentenced a man to seven years in prison and seven strokes of the cane for robbing three men at two separate premises in MJC Batu Kawa here within a span of less than five minutes.

Awang Mazheli Awang Jadid, 30, pleaded guilty to all charges read separately before Judge Musli Ab Hamid and Judge Saiful Bahari Adzmi.

He was charged with three offences under Section 392 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, along with the possibility of a fine or caning, upon conviction.

According to the charges, Awang Mazheli robbed two men in an incident around 4.50am at a food stall in MJC Batu Kawa on Oct 5, before proceeding to rob another male victim at a nearby laundromat.

The facts of the case revealed that during the incident, Awang Mazheli, dressed in black and wearing a Joker mask, robbed the three victims while armed with a fake rifle to intimidate and threaten them.

He stole two mobile phones from two victims and a gas cylinder belonging to the food stall during the incident.

A police report was made following the robbery and Awang Mazheli was arrested on Oct 15.

Investigations revealed that Awang Mazheli’s actions were clearly captured by CCTV footage.

A further investigation found that Awang Mazheli’s modus operandi was to use a vehicle with a stolen licence plate, park behind the two adjacent premises, enter the premises, rob the victims, and leave the scene.

In addition to the mobile phones and gas cylinder, a white Joker face mask was also seized from Awang Mazheli.

The items were identified by the victims and witnesses, and were confirmed to have been used by Awang Mazheli during the incident.

DPPs Muhammad Asymawi Ghazali and Cynthia Emmelda Jerry handled the prosecution, while Awang Mazheli was unrepresented by legal counsel.