A 58-year-old man in Sibu was sentenced to 20 years in prison for slashing his wife and daughter with a machete at their family home.
SIBU: The Sessions Court sentenced a 58-year-old man to a total of 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts of voluntarily causing grievous hurt to his wife and daughter with a machete.
Rahim Shim Abdullah committed the offences at their family home at 5.38 am on October 29.
He was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 326A of the same Code.
The offence carries a prison term of up to 20 years, a fine, or whipping, while Section 326A allows the sentence to be doubled for crimes involving a family member.
Both victims sustained slash wounds and were rushed to hospital for treatment.
The man fled the scene but was arrested later that day near a durian orchard in Kanowit.
In mitigation, Rahim, who has been unemployed since the COVID-19 pandemic, told the court he regretted his actions.
He claimed he was under emotional distress after repeated arguments with his wife over alleged infidelity.
Unrepresented by counsel, he pleaded for a lenient sentence, citing his health problems and responsibilities towards his wife and three children.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Cynthia Emmelda Jerry pressed for a deterrent sentence, stressing the accused’s actions endangered the lives of his wife and daughter and involved a dangerous weapon.
Judge Musyiri Peet said the accused’s actions were inexcusable despite his domestic disputes and emotional distress.
The judge stated that as the head of the family, the accused was duty-bound to protect his wife and child.
He added that the accused instead inflicted grievous harm upon them, breaching the trust and responsibility expected of him.
The court sentenced Rahim to 10 years’ imprisonment for each charge, with the sentences to run consecutively.
This makes a total of 20 years’ imprisonment effective from the date of conviction. – Bernama
