By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Jan 23: The Sessions Court here today handed down an eight-year jail sentence and two strokes of the cane to a man who admitted to robbing a café in Kota Sentosa in the early hours of Monday.
Nur Muhamaad Zaitul Ikhmal Reki, 28, pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 392 of the Penal Code before Judge Iris Awen Jon. He was unrepresented during the proceedings. The offence carries a maximum sentence of up to 14 years’ imprisonment, along with a fine or caning.
Court records showed that the incident occurred at around 3.40am on January 19, 2026. At the time, a 19-year-old café employee was working alone when the accused entered the premises, pretended to be a customer, and ordered a beverage.
After completing the transaction, the man suddenly moved towards the counter, opened the cash drawer, and grabbed the money inside. When the worker attempted to stop him, he allegedly issued verbal threats, forcing her to back off.
The café suffered losses amounting to RM2,500.40 in the incident.
Following a police report, the accused was arrested on January 22. Investigations revealed that the robbery was clearly captured by the café’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) system, while a subsequent identification parade conducted by the victim successfully confirmed the accused’s identity.
In his submission, Deputy Public Prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng called for a stiff sentence, pointing out that a total of 4,274 robbery cases were reported nationwide in 2025, reflecting the continued prevalence of such crimes.
He argued that the rising trend of robbery cases and their impact on public safety justified a heavier custodial sentence coupled with caning as a deterrent and to safeguard the public. — DayakDaily
