By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, March 10: A 31-year-old man involved in the murder of a 51-year-old security guard at a hotel in Batu Kawa in 2023 has been sentenced to four years in prison.
The Magistrate’s Court handed down the sentence to Bong Ying Hao after he pleaded guilty under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same law.
According to the charge, Bong and 10 accomplices unintentionally caused the death of the local man. The crime took place on the staircase of a hotel in Batu Kawa between 12.30am and 1am on October 30, 2023.
Under this section of the Penal Code, the offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine, or both.
Case facts revealed that the deceased’s employer lodged a complaint after witnessing the victim being assaulted by a group of unidentified men.
The victim was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries two days later, on November 1.
A post-mortem examination confirmed that he died from blunt force trauma, indicating he had been struck with a blunt object or punched repeatedly.
Investigations determined that the attack stemmed from a misunderstanding. The accused was searching for his wife, whom he believed had been harassed by the victim at the hotel. He then enlisted the help of friends who had been drinking at a nightclub.
A police report led to the arrests of all suspects in stages. Bong was apprehended on February 18, 2024, at approximately 4.05pm.
Further investigations confirmed that the accused had participated in the group assault on the victim despite knowing their actions could be fatal.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Adriana Maisarah Mohd Farid prosecuted the case, while Bong was represented by lawyer Jong Yee Ling. — DayakDaily
