KUCHING: A local man was sentenced to five months in prison by the Magistrates’ Court here yesterday after threatening his next-door neighbour with a machete for refusing to lend him a motorbike.
The accused, Philip , 30, pleaded guilty to a charge which was read out by an interpreter in front of Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali.
Based on the charge sheet, he intentionally caused fear to the 25-year-old woman. He committed the offence at a house at Bandar Baru Samariang here on August 21.
Therefore, the accused was charged under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of up to seven years or a fine or both, if convicted.
According to the fact of the case, during the incident, the complainant’s biological son had gone berserk and took a machete towards the next-door neighbour because he was not satisfied with his neighbour who refused to lend him a motorcycle.
The complainant’s neighbour (victim) then ran into the house due to fear of being injured by the accused and the victim was unharmed in the incident.
The complainant, who is the accused’s mother, made a police report because she was worried about her own safety and that of other family members because she was often threatened by the accused.
As a result of the investigation, the accused was found to have made criminal threats by swinging and waving a machete at the fence and motorcycle in a state of anger in the area of the victim’s house.
It is understood that the accused committed the act while under the influence of alcohol.
The prosecution of the case was handled by Prosecuting Officer Inspector Mohd Adzmei Ahmad while the accused was not represented by a lawyer.
