KOTA KINABALU: An undocumented migrant who slashed a man with a machete at a pedestrian bridge was sentenced to 13 years' jail and three strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court today.
It was learnt that the incident occurred out of jealousy.
Judge Ummu Kalthom Abdul Samad meted out the sentence on Mohd Isa Ambarat @ Bayu, 22, after he pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a machete.
The labourer committed the offence at a pedestrian bridge near a Public Bank branch in Putatan on May 18 at 6.30pm.
The facts of the case stated that the incident occurred when the victim and his fiancée were about to return to a village in Putatan.
The accused approached the victim and slashed him several times with a machete before fleeing.
The victim suffered injuries to the checks and hands and was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.
In mitigation, the accused, who was unrepresented, asked for leniency, saying that he is married and is a first-time offender.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohammad Fauzi Acho urged for a deterrent sentence considering the seriousness of the offence as it involved the life of another person.
He said the severity of the injuries suffered by the victim was clear.
He said the case had public interest and told the court the accused was not a Malaysian citizen and had entered the country illegally.
The court ordered Isa to be referred to the Immigration Department for further action after serving his sentence.
KW: undocumented migrant, machete, slashing, Sabah, Mohd Isa Ambarat @ Bayu, crime, court, jealousy