KUALA LUMPUR: Two friends who are currently in jail were sentenced by the Sessions Court today to another four years behind bars and two strokes of the rotan each, for robbing and causing physical hurt to an e-hailing driver, last year.
R. Nanthakumar, 33, and C. S Komagan, 41, who are serving time for a similar case, were sentenced after they entered their guilty plea before Judge Emelia Kaswati Mohamad Khalid.
The duo who worked as labourers were ordered to serve their sentence from the date of arrest on Dec 11, 2018.
They were jointly charged with committing gang robbery against Muhammad Asfaruddin Sabarudin, 26, by taking away the victim’s RM80 cash and intentionally caused hurt to the victim during the incident.
The offence was committed at Jalan Bukit Tunku, Jalan Sultan Ismail, here, at 4.05 pm on Dec 5, last year.
The charge under Section 394 of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years and shall also be liable to whipping.
In pleading for leniency, Nanthakumar and Komagan who were unrepresented said they were the sole breadwinners of their family.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Aisyah Ahmad urged for a deterrent sentence saying that it was a serious offence and that the victim in the case sustained injuries.
According to the facts of the case, both the accused had booked an e-hailing ride from Times Square shopping centre to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
However, the duo had changed their destination to Jalan Bukit Tunku saying that they had to pick up a laptop there.
Upon arrival at the destination, Nanthakumar brandished a knife at the victim while the other accused (Komagan) strangled the victim and demanded for the victim’s valuables.
In the incident, Nanthakumar stabbed the victim’s left thigh and both of the accused fled the scene with the money.
On Jan 2, at a different Sessions Court, the duo were sentenced to three years’ jail and four strokes of rotan each for robbing two e-hailing drivers in December.