TWO FRIENDS SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS IN PRISON FOR ROBBING ELDERLY COUPLE

KUCHING, Nov 18 (Bernama) – Two friends were sentenced to nine years in prison and three strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court here today for robbing an elderly couple using a machete in Bau, last August.

Judge Noorhisham Mohd Jaafar handed down the sentence after Akmal Najmuddin Jeperidin, 32, and Horyezad Hosen, 24, pleaded guilty to committing the act against the couple, who are in their 70s, at the victims' house in Pekan Taiton, Bau, at 2 pm on August 9, under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code.

The court ordered Akmal Najmuddin and Horyezad to begin their prison sentences from the date of their arrest, which was November 7 and November 12, respectively.

According to the facts of the case, four masked men, one of whom was carrying a machete, tied up the victim, the victim's wife, their son, and their granddaughter using adhesive tape on their wrists and mouths during the incident.

The victim was then ordered to go to the bedroom and open the safe, but he refused to do so, causing one of the men to kick his waist and swing the machete, striking the victim's left palm.

However, the robbers found the key and were able to open the victim's safe, taking all the cash, totaling approximately RM100,000.

In addition to the cash, the items stolen were two gold necklaces and rings belonging to the victim's son and granddaughter, identity documents, and a mobile phone.

The prosecution was handled by Deputy Public Prosecutor Adriana Maisarah Mohd Farid, while both the accused were not represented.

-- BERNAMA