FOREIGNER JAILED 20 YEAR FOR MANSLAUGHTER

Foreigner jailed 20 years for manslaughter

TAWAU 28th March, 2012: A Filipino was yesterday imprisoned 20 years for causing the death of his 46-year-old brother-in-law at Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu in 2008.

Expedito Manicap, 45, committed the crime at a house at Q31B, Sahabat 22, Tungku at about 9.30pm on Dec 21.

Initially, he was charged for the murder of his brother-in-law under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Douglas Primus ordered the accused to begin his incarceration from the date of arrest on Dec 22, 2011.

According to the facts, Expedito and his sister, Gloria Bantilan Barcosa and the brother-in-law were having lunch when an argument broke out between the couple.

The victim apparently threw the food at the wife and began to strike her with a beer bottle.

The incident enraged Expedito who went to take a machete and slashed his brother-in-law several times.

The body was later thrown in a drain at Block 23, Felda Sahabat 22.

DPP Badius Zaman Haji Ahmad conducted the prosecution while Expedito was unrepresented.

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Hotel security guard jailed for assisting pimp

TAWAU Mac 28, 2012: A hotel security guard was yesterday jailed for three years by the Sessions Court here for being a pimp’s agent in a human trafficking case.

Judge Egusra Ali meted out the sentence on Abd Jani Jarani, 52, after being charged under Section 13 of the Anti Traffic in Person and Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 which provides not less than three years and not more than 20 years’ imprisonment and liable to a fine.

The case was previously discharged not amounting to acquittal due to the absence of the prosecution’s two witnesses (TV3 reporters).

The prosecuting officer filed a revision at the High Court here and Judicial Commissioner Datuk Douglas Cristo Primus Sikayun remitted the continuation to the Sessions Court for the trial to proceed.

Last Friday, the court ruled there was a prima facie case and ordered the accused and four others who are Indonesian citizens Sri Yatmi bte Jini, 41, Firman bin Laherang, 32, Muspaid bin Mustari, 27, and Muhamad Amir @ Nasir bin Yusip, 39, to enter the defence.

The Indonesians are believed to have gone back to their country. Warrants of arrest have been issued against the four missing accused and the court fixed April 24, this year for mention.

Jani chose to give a sworn statement in the witness box and called no other witnesses.

The court ruled out doubt raised by the prosecutor and in mitigation the accused pleaded for leniency as he has many children.

Deputy public prosecutor Shukor Abu Bakar asked the court for a heavy sentence because the crime is not just a local crime but internationally recognised and Malaysia is second in the tier watch list by the USA and all over the world.

Shukor said the victims had not only been physically abused but also emotionally traumatized as one of the victims, Denik Rika Dwi bt Simin, 24, had a three-year-old child with her throughout the ordeal.

Based on information, about 8.50pm on May 4, 2010 Abd Jani was detained in front of MB Hotel, Hj Karim Road for his involvement in the case.

Police investigation revealed that the two victims, Denik Rika Dwi and Ratno Setyowati bte Supri, 24, both from Jawa Timor, Indonesia were promised work at a restaurant in Kalimantan with good pay by Muhammad Amir.

They were brought to Nunukan, Indonesia on March 2010 before being taken to Tawau.

Once in Tawau, both victims were forced into prostitution at hotels through booking. The clients were charged between RM150 and RM300 and the victims claimed they were never paid.

On May 3, Denik Rika was booked by a customer (a TV3 crew member) at MB Hotel. The following day, both victims were booked about 1.30am and were brought to Hotel Promenade where both were interviewed by TV3 crew on their involvement in prostitution and how they came to Tawau.

After the interview the crew exposed their identity and offered the two victims help by handing them to the Indonesian Consulate.