By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Oct 21: A 47-year-old man was sentenced to 11 months in jail by the Magistrate’s Court here today for assaulting his wife after she refused to give him money meant to support his four children from a previous marriage.
The accused, Mohd Rizal Tar, who was unrepresented, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali to a charge under Section 323 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 326A of the same law, for voluntarily causing hurt to his spouse.
The court ordered his jail term to take effect immediately, beginning today.
According to the facts of the case, the incident occurred at about 7pm on October 15, 2025, at a house in Kampung Semariang Batu, Petra Jaya. An argument broke out between the couple, during which the accused slapped his wife.
The altercation escalated when the victim was later taken to the front of her sister-in-law’s house along Jalan Haji Mataim, where the accused proceeded to choke, slap, punch, and pull her arm, causing visible injuries.
Investigations revealed that the violence stemmed from a dispute over money. The accused had asked his wife for financial assistance to support his four children with his former wife.
However, the victim refused, explaining that she also needed funds to pay off debts and meet her family’s own expenses.
As a result of the assault, the victim sustained bruises and swelling on her lips, neck, chin, and right arm. She later lodged a police report, leading to the accused’s arrest on October 16.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng prosecuted the case. — DayakDaily
