KUCHING: A local man was sent to prison for five years by the Sessions Court here Tuesday for having a 48cm machete without a valid reason.
Omar Karim, 52, admitted to the offence a under Subsection 7 (1)(a) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Dangerous Weapons Act 1958.
Judge Musli Abdul Hamid ordered him to serve his prison sentence effective from the date of his arrest on March 10.
According to the facts of the case, police received an emergency call from a woman stating that her uncle (Omar) had gone on a rampage with a machete and tried to injure himself.
At about 7.30pm the same day, a team of policemen and firefighters managed to arrest him at a house in Kampung Seberang Bako.
A 48cm machete was confiscated.
Omar, a bachelor who does not have a permanent job pleaded for his sentence to be reduced on the grounds that he needs to support his sister and nephew.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Norshafatihah Nor Azmi requested that he be given a stiff sentence given the seriousness of the offence and public interest.
