PETALING JAYA: The Kuantan High Court has reduced a housekeeping supervisor’s sentence for assaulting and robbing his former girlfriend to six years’ imprisonment and two strokes of the cane.
Judicial commissioner Kumar Thangaraju ruled that the original sentence imposed on Abdul Mu’izz Zin, 35, of 10 years’ imprisonment and three strokes of the cane was excessive.
The court upheld his conviction under Section 394 of the Penal Code for assaulting the 32-year-old woman while robbing her of her car at her home in Rompin on Aug 5, 2023.
According to the facts of the case, Mu’izz went to the woman’s house after their relationship ended and demanded money, allegedly for wedding preparations.
She told him to leave and returned to her room, leaving the sliding door open in case she needed to escape because she felt unsafe.
Later, she heard the car engine starting and tried to stop Mu’izz from driving away. During the struggle, he punched her, pushed her into the car and drove off.
He returned to the house after realising that he had left his mobile phone behind. He pushed the woman out of the car and told her to look for his phone, prompting her to run to her brother-in-law for help.
Police arrested Mu’izz in Kuala Lumpur and recovered the car in Johor Bahru.
Kumar said the conviction was safe as there was "no material discrepancy going to the heart of the charge".
"The accused’s own evidence in cross-examination deserves considerable weight. That evidence confirmed almost every element of the offence," he said.
On sentencing, Kumar said six years’ imprisonment properly reflected the gravity of the offence, noting that the woman’s injuries were relatively minor. A doctor found bruising on both cheeks and her right thigh, but no skull fracture. She was given paracetamol and anti-inflammatory medication.
No weapon was used, and the car was recovered intact within four days, he said.