GEORGE TOWN: A 19-year-old school dropout has been ordered to be sent to the Henry Gurney School in Melaka for robbing a Canadian woman.
Judge Mazdi Abdul Hamid of the Sessions Court declared that Muhammad Imran Yahya would be sent to the school for three years, until he becomes 21, whichever comes first, due to the fact that this was his first offence, for which he entered a guilty plea, his age, as well as the specifics of the case.
“While you have another two offences in another court here, we take this as your first time committing an offence.
“The items stolen have been recovered and there was no loss in this case.
“While we must consider public interest, your interests must be considered as well. It must serve as a deterrent but must also be an educational opportunity,” he said yesterday.
According to the charge sheet, on Oct 28 at around 5.20pm, Muhamad Imran snatched a backpack from a Canadian woman’s table at a local eatery in Campbell Street.
He was charged under Section 392 of the Penal Code for robbery, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 14 years in prison, a fine, or whipping.
In mitigation, he told the court that he was the youngest of four siblings and that his parents were unemployed.
“My older brother is taking care of them. I stopped school in Year Six.
“I will not do this again,” he said in a shaky voice.
Earlier, in a separate Sessions Court, he claimed trial to two other similar charges before judge Mohammad Khalid Ab Karim.
He was charged with robbing a woman at 6pm on Oct 28 around Campbell Street, less than an hour after robbing the Canadian.
The charge sheet stated that he snatched the woman’s bag containing her identification card and driving licence, RM400, a handphone and office keys.
He faces a third charge of robbing another woman in Batu Feringghi at around 7am on Oct 3 of RM200 and her bank card.
The facts of the case included that while snatching the woman’s handbag, the victim fell and got injured.
He was charged under Section 394 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine and whipping, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Puteri Nor Nadia Mohamed Iqbal urged the court to disallow bail or offer bail with conditions due to the multiple charges.
The court set bail at RM5,000 and RM7,000 in one surety for the cases, respectively with special conditions.
