KLANG: A 33-year-old unemployed man was sentenced to five years in jail by the Sessions Court today after pleading guilty to attempting to murder a police sergeant at a petrol station earlier this month.
Judge Sharifah Hascindie Syed Omar ordered Mohammad Arif Selamat to begin serving his sentence from the date of his arrest on Nov 13.
He was also fined RM10,000, with a 12-month jail term in default of payment.
According to the charge sheet, Arif was accused of driving a car in a manner that dragged Sergeant Syed Ali Syed Akil, 46, knowing it could have caused his death.
The alleged offence occurred at about 3.03 pm at a petrol station in Taman Radzi, Persiaran Raja Muda Musa on Nov 12.
The charge, framed under Section 307 of the Penal Code, carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine, or a maximum 20-year term if injuries are caused.
Arif, representing himself, pleaded for leniency, telling the court he is unmarried, has an elder brother, and cares for parents aged 61 and 54, with his father suffering from heart disease.
Deputy public prosecutor Peh Fong Xi urged the court to impose a stiff sentence due to the seriousness of the offence.
“This case has gained public attention and a heavy sentence is necessary to serve as a lesson to the accused.
“The victim is a civil servant who was carrying out his duties.
“The accused’s act of driving the car and dragging the victim clearly showed intention. Public interest outweighs the accused’s personal circumstances and therefore a higher sentence is justified,” she said.
According to the facts of the case, on Nov 12 at about 2.30 pm, a team of investigators from Selangor police contingent headquarters’ Intelligence and Operations Department was conducting a crime prevention patrol in Jalan Sri Sarawak, Taman Sri Andalas, when they spotted a vehicle believed to be linked to a police report lodged in Subang Jaya.
They tailed the car, driven by Arif, to the main road of Jalan Persiaran Raja Muda Musa towards Port Klang until it stopped at the petrol station.
At the station, Syed Ali and his colleague, who were in a black Honda Civic, attempted to stop Arif by positioning themselves beside his vehicle.
During the arrest attempt, Arif acted aggressively by pushing Syed Ali, then re-entering his car and speeding off, dragging Syed Ali and nearly running over his leg, causing him to fall.
Arif then rammed the front of Syed Ali’s vehicle before fleeing the scene, driving against traffic towards Persiaran Raja Muda and heading in the direction of Shah Alam.
On Nov 13, South Klang police chief Assistant Commissioner Ramli Kasa said the suspect, who has 20 previous criminal offences, including five drug-related offences, was arrested in Bandar Bukit Tinggi.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
