Labourer gets eight years in jail, whipping for causing grievous hurt to woman

SIBU: A 22-year-old labourer has been sentenced to eight years’ jail and three strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court in Kapit on Tuesday (June 21) for causing grievous hurt to a woman.

The accused, Daniel Sugai of Rumah Sugai, Sungai Song, pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 326 of the Penal Code before Judge Marutin Pagan.

According to the facts of the case, the accused had at about 2.15pm on May 27 at SK Nanga Selibut, Song, trespassed into the quarters of a 30-year-old woman through the front door.

While inside, he used the toilet, before opening the bedroom door. The victim was sleeping at the time.

Sugai then went to the kitchen and took a knife. After that, he lay down next to the victim and started to molest her.

The victim woke up and screamed for help. With the knife in his hand, the accused attacked her and she suffered injuries.

The accused was arrested at about 7.30pm on the same day after the victim’s husband lodged a police report.

Sugai is also facing another two charges under Section 422 and 354 of the Penal Code, which are related to the case.

Sibu Subordinate Court assistant registrar Romme Ahmad Zaidi had, on June 8, released the accused on bail of RM3,000 each for the first two charges.

He also ordered the accused to appear at the Kapit Magistrate’s Court on June 27 for the hearing of the cases.

In the first charge under Section 422 of the Penal Code, Daniel was accused of trespassing into the victim’s residence.

The section provides for a jail term of up to three years or fine of up to RM5,000 or both if convicted.

In the second charge, he was accused of outraging the modesty of the woman at the same time and place.

He faces a jail term of up to 10 years or fine or with whipping if found guilty.