SIBU: A lorry driver was yesterday sentenced to 15 years in jail by the High Court here for causing the death of a mechanic three years ago.

Justice Dr Hamid Sultan Abu Backer sent Jamri Sipok to jail after he pleaded guilty to the alternative charge framed under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code.

Hamid took into consideration that the accused was a first offender, his plea of guilty, seriousness of the case, public interest and the circumstances surrounding the case.

He also took into account the cruel and ruthless act by the accused in committing the heinous crime.

Jamri, 24, was originally charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code which provides for a mandatory death sentence upon conviction. He, however, denied the charge.

According to the alternative charge, he was said to have intentionally caused bodily injuries to Seng Kai Ming, 48, which later led to his death.

Jamri, represented by assigned defence counsel Louis Jarau, was said to have committed the offence in a workers’ quarters in an oil palm plantation in Dijih, Mukah at about 1am on April 19, 2005.

Section 304(a) of the Penal Code provides for a maximum penalty of 20 years’ jail upon conviction.

Earlier in presenting the facts of the case, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Zubir Jantan told the court that about 8.30pm on April 18, 2005, Jamri was with some friends having a barbecue and in sobriety after having consumed alcohol.

After the barbecue ended, the accused and his friends later went to their company office and directed the fuel pump caretaker, known as Baharuddin, to top the fuel tank of lorry they were using.

After it was filled, Jamri went to the workers’ quarters with Baharuddin and another friend known as Nyanau, and proceeded to the company chief mechanic’s room known later as the deceased.

Jamri, who brought along a parang and a shotgun then knocked on the victim’s door while directing him to wake up. When the victim came out, the accused was angry with the victim for always complaining about him.

The accused then talked to Baharuddin and threatened to kill both of them (Baharuddin and the victim). The victim begged the accused not to disturb him.

However, the accused continued to brandish the parang he was holding towards the victim’s face several times causing the victim to scream in pain.

At the same time, the plantation’s assistant supervisor known as Nasir tried to assist but the accused fired one shot towards the wall in the workers’ quarters.

Immediately after that, the accused and the others left the scene. The victim was subsequently rushed to Mukah hospital by other workers but he died on the way.

Jamri then fled to Bintulu but he was arrested in a house in Bintulu on May 12, 2005.