MIRI: A hardened criminal offender was yesterday sentenced to six years in jail for robbing a Pakistani. He will also be given two strokes of the rotan.

The accomplice, his younger brother, got four years.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Wan Sazaly Jaafar tendered three previous conviction records of Thomas Bilong, 40, of Permyjaya. For Timothy Bilong, 24, it was his first offence.

Thomas and Timothy were convicted on their own guilty plea to a charge under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years with whipping.

They committed the offence at 12.30pm on May 26 in Lorong 4-5 of Taman Ceria in Tudan.

Wan Sazaly related to Sessions Court judge Duncan Sikodol that on the day in question Mujiburrahman Daud, 26, of Lot 746, Jalan Halia in Lutong Baru was collecting payments from his customer.

In his police report, Wan Sazaly said he wanted to go home after completing his task.

Unfortunately for Mujiburrahman, a man was waiting for him when he reached his car. He was forced to drive home in the company of the man.

At home, two other men were waiting for him. Together, the three men beat him up and demanded for RM30. When Mujirburrahman shouted to attract the attention of his neighbours the robbers hit his neck and back.

Later at 1pm in front of Lot 7556, Lorong 4-5, Taman Ceria Permyjaya, Utama Bandar Baru, Permyjaya, Tudan, a team of police led by ASP Ooi and Inspector Nasrul arrested Timothy. They arrested Thomas, 40, at Jalan Kwang Tung.

The brothers pleaded not guilty when they were charged in court on Wednesday.

But when the case was heard yesterday they changed their minds and pleaded guilty.