Man gets 17 years’ jail for samurai sword crime spree

 The Court of Appeal allows the prosecution's appeal to reinstate a ruling by the sessions court.

A three-member Court of Appeal bench restored a sessions court decision after submissions by the prosecution.

PUTRAJAYA:

 A man who carried out four robberies in four days while armed with a samurai sword will serve a total of 17 years in jail after the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal by the prosecution.

A three-member bench chaired by Justice Noorin Badaruddin restored a sessions court decision after being convinced by submissions from deputy public prosecutor Allan Suman Pillai.

“This appeal warrants appellate intervention,” said Justice Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz, who delivered the broad grounds.

The 37-year-old man was also ordered to be whipped seven times.

The other member of the appeal panel was Justice Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid.

Earlier, the prosecution had filed an appeal after the High Court reduced Tengku Izwan Shah Azman’s jail term from 17 years to 11.

Tengku Izwan committed the offences in Tanjung Rambutan and Beruas in Perak between July 23 and 26, 2023.

For the first charge, he was jailed for four years and given a stroke of the rotan, and for the second charge, five years’ jail and one stroke of the rotan.

The sessions court ordered him to serve the sentences concurrently, meaning he would spend five years behind bars for the first two charges.

However, the court sentenced him to six years and two strokes of the rotan each for the third and fourth charges. These sentences are to be served consecutively on top of the first two charges, bringing the overall sentence to 17 years.

Following an appeal by Tengku Izwan, the Ipoh High Court maintained the jail term for the first and second charges, but ordered the sentences for the third and fourth charges to run concurrently.

Allan submitted that the four offences were separate and distinct criminal acts committed at different times and places, and against different victims.

“The original sentencing structure imposed by the sessions court was justified and proportionate,” he said.

Allan said that by arming himself with a dangerous weapon, Tengku Izwan had instilled fear in his victims to part with cash and valuables amounting to nearly RM25,000.

Appearing for Tengku Izwan, counsel Aliff Aiman Rusli urged the court to maintain the High Court ruling, saying the respondent had five children to support. - FMT