Father-of-8 jailed for 14 years over wife’s death

 

The charge against Jakaria Abu Bakar was amended to causing death by negligence after it came to light that there was an element of provocation. (File pic)

TAWAU: A father-of-eight was sentenced to 14 years in prison by the High Court here after he was found guilty of negligently causing his wife’s death six years ago.

Justice Lim Hock Leng ordered Jakaria Abu Bakar, 56, to serve the sentence from the date of his arrest on Feb 4, 2019.

Jakaria was initially charged with murdering Norminah Bollok, 39, at an unnumbered house in Kampung Pinggir Bakau, Semporna, in Sabah, at 4am on Jan 22, 2017.

However, the charge against Jakaria was amended to Section 304(a) of the Penal Code for causing death by negligence after the court found that there was an element of provocation due to an argument between him and his wife.

It also found that during the argument, there was a scuffle for a machete which ended with the wife being stabbed.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Hurman Hussain, while lawyer Andy Tay represented the accused.

In the same court, Lim also sentenced a 51-year-old Filipino illegal immigrant to life imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane after finding him guilty of drug trafficking.

Nedzmar Palaudin was charged under Section 39B (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1957 for trafficking 129g of syabu at the roadside of Jalan Dahlia, in front of the Nisah Trading Store in Lahad Datu at 7am on Dec 16, 2021.

Hurman was also the prosecutor in the case, while lawyer Abdul Gani Zelika represented the accused. - FMT