High Court dismisses light caning for youth who set dog on fire

JOHOR BARU: The High Court here has dismissed the light caning sentence of the youth who pleaded guilty at the Sessions Court for setting a dog on fire.

High Court Judge Datuk Abu Bakar Katar made the decision after reviewing the sentence that was given by the Sessions Court to 18-year-old Braden Yap Hong Sheng on April 19.

Also read: Teen who set dog on fire sentenced to seven strokes of light cane in open court

Yap was previously sentenced to be caned lightly seven times in open court on May 21 and be placed on a good behaviour bond for one year with a surety of RM10,000 by Sessions Judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim.

Lawyer G. K. Sritharan, who represented Yap, said that the High Court Judge (Abu Bakar) called the prosecution and defence counsel on Sunday (May 21) to hear the changes in sentence.

He said that the High Court Judge has revoked the light caning sentence, so Yap will only need to undergo the 12-month good behaviour bond.

“The decision was made because under Section 293 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), two sentences cannot be given," said Sritharan.

The Sessions Court has given Yap a light caning and a good behaviour bond, which could not be done,” he added when met by reporters outside the court.

Section 293(1)(c) of the CPC allows the court to order a male offender to be whipped with not more than seven strokes of a light cane within the court premises and in the presence of the parent and guardian.

The case was prosecuted by deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali.

On April 12, Yap pleaded guilty to the charge of causing excruciating pain to a brown female dog by beating it and setting it on fire.

The act occurred at 1.49am on March 27 along Jalan Impian Emas 22, Taman Impian Emas.