By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Nov 6: The High Court here sentenced a 57-year-old farmer to 30 years in prison after admitting to the murder of his 35-year-old friend by shooting him with a shotgun two years ago.
Nuli Natau pleaded guilty during today’s proceeding before Judicial Commissioner Alexander Siew How Wai.
He was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code for intentionally causing the death of his friend in an unnumbered house located in a paddy field in Kampung Sungai Pedada, Sri Aman, at around 3.30am on January 2, 2021.
According to the charge, if found guilty, Natau could have faced the death penalty or imprisonment for a term not less than 30 years and not exceeding 40 years if not sentenced to death. Additionally, he would have faced a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.
Justice Alexander ordered the imprisonment sentence to be effective from Natau’s arrest date on January 2, 2023.
The facts of the case revealed that on January 1, 2021, at around 6.30am, Natau and his cousin went to the victim’s house to consume ‘langkau’.
In their inebriated state, the victim suddenly held onto Natau’s leg and dragged him to the main door of the house. Natau inquired about the victim’s behaviour, to which the victim only responded, “I just dragged you”(“Saya tariklah”).
Enraged by this statement, Natau returned to his home, located 2.4 kilometres from the victim’s house, and returned to the scene with a shotgun and fired it at the victim.
The incident was witnessed by the victim’s stepson, who contacted Malaysia’s Emergency Response Service (MERS 999) after seeing the victim lying motionless on the floor with blood coming from his mouth.
Following the incident, the police arrested Natau on the same day at around noon and confiscated the firearm used.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Yong Suk Hui, while Natau was represented by counsels Simon Siah and Moh Ung Kieng. — DayakDaily
