Friday November 13, 2009
Viet escapes the gallows
By K. KASTURI DEWI
GEORGE TOWN: A Vietnamese, who together with three others caused the death of his countryman, escaped the gallows when he pleaded guilty to a reduced charged.
Nguyen Van Thang, 33, pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of causing the death of Nguyen Ngoc Bau in an unnumbered house in the compound of the Hup Sheng Huat Sawmills Sdn Bhd in Jalan Kulim in Machang Bubok, Seberang Perai Tengah at 10.30pm on Aug 27, 2005. He was jailed six years.
The charge under Section 304 (b) of the Penal Code carries a maximum 10 years’ jail sentence.
In presenting the facts of the case at a High Court here, Deputy Public Prosecutor Arik Zakri said four Vietnamese men came into the room where the deceased and another friend were sleeping on the day of the offence and asked for a loan.
One of the attackers kicked Ngoc Bau in the stomach and as he fell, the attacker took a piece of wood and hit the latter on the right side of the face causing him to become unconscious.
Van Thang was arrested on Aug 29. In mitigation, Van Thang’s counsel Eric Cheah said his client was married with two children aged five and 10.
“My client just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
“He had only followed the others to the scene to get back the money. It was the other two who actually attacked the deceased,” he said.
He ordered Van Thang to serve his sentence from the date of his arrest.
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