Man jailed 18 months for assault over alleged phone theft

Borneo Post

18-07-2025

According to the facts of the case, the victim had gone to the house with two of his cousins to retrieve a mobile phone allegedly stolen by the accused. – Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING (July 18): The Magistrates' Court here today sentenced a 25-year-old man to 18 months' imprisonment for assaulting an individual who had gone to retrieve his cousin's allegedly stolen mobile phone.
Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan handed down the sentence on Mohd Bidawi Abdollah after he pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 324 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Act.
The Section provides a penalty of up to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine, whipping, or any combination of the three upon conviction.
The incident occurred on February 9, 2025, at around 8pm in an unnumbered house at Kampung Sungai Nibong, Jalan Pasir Pandak, Santubong.
According to the facts of the case, the victim had gone to the house with two of his cousins to retrieve a mobile phone allegedly stolen by the accused.
While there, Mohd Bidawi and his two brothers attacked the victim using an axe, a motorcycle helmet, and a broken air rifle, causing the victim to lose consciousness.
His cousins managed to flee and alerted the victim's younger brother.
A police report was later lodged, leading to the arrest of Mohd Bidawi and his brothers.
A medical report revealed the victim suffered lacerations to the occipital and frontal scalp, a scalp haematoma, bruises on the left shoulder, forearm, flank, and right chin, as well as abrasions on the lower left chest.
Both of the victim's cousins were eyewitnesses to the assault. During a police lineup, they identified Mohd Bidawi as one of the attackers.
They also confirmed that the helmet and broken air rifle used in the assault matched the weapons recovered from the scene.
The prosecution was led by Inspector Nur Syafiqa Nyaie Ilin, while Mohd Bidawi was unrepresented. assault jail Kuching stolen phone