Man gets 7 years, two strokes for robbing convenience store

KUCHING: A 49-year-old man whom robbed a convenience store last September was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and two strokes of whipping by the Sessions Court here today.

Judge Shafiza Datuk Abdul Razak Tready meted out the sentence to Faizal Said after he pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 392 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 397 of the same Code.

Section 392 of the Penal Code provides for imprisonment of up to 14 years, and the offender shall also be liable to a fine or whipping.

Faizal committed the offence at about 2.40pm on Sept 30 at a convenience store near Jalan Muara Tabuan, where he robbed a 45-year-old store worker of RM600 in cash while armed with a knife.

The court heard that the complainant was approached by Faizal from behind, who then covered his mouth while pointing a knife at him.

Faizal subsequently took RM600 from the cash register before fleeing the premises.
On Oct 2 at about 8.45am, police arrested Faizal at a café near Pearl Commercial Centre and seized several items, including a pair of white Nike sneakers, a red hoodie and a black helmet.

Investigations revealed that the complainant was working at the convenience store at the time of the incident.

Faizal had entered the store wearing the helmet and approached the counter to purchase a piece of candy before suddenly covering the complainant’s mouth from behind and pointing a knife at him.

He then forcibly took RM600 from the cash register and fled the scene.

The complainant was traumatised by the incident after Faizal unexpectedly pointed the knife at him.

The complainant later identified Faizal during an identification parade and confirmed that the red hoodie seized by police was the one worn by him during the incident.

He also confirmed that the man captured in the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage was Faizal.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng submitted that the use of violence warranted a heavier sentence.

“In the present case, the accused used a deadly weapon, namely a knife, during the commission of the offence.

“This demonstrates the use of violence and the intention to instil fear. The presence of a weapon would undoubtedly have caused fear and distress to the complainant. The complainant must therefore have experienced a traumatic ordeal,” he said.

Chuah added that the offence was further aggravated by the vulnerability of the complainant, who was the lone victim present at the scene, warranting a heavier sentence.

Faizal was unrepresented during the proceedings.