Dog abuser spared caning

JOHOR BARU: The teenager who pleaded guilty to setting a dog on fire has been spared caning after the High Court dismissed the sentence.

Justice Abu Bakar Katar made the decision yesterday after reviewing the sentence meted on Braden Yap Hong Sheng, 18, by the Sessions Court on April 19.

Under the lower court’s ruling by judge Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim last month, Yap was supposed to have been caned lightly seven times in open court yesterday and be placed on a good behaviour bond for one year at RM10,000 in one surety.

Lawyer GK Sritharan, who represented Yap, said Justice Abu Bakar called the prosecution and defence counsel yesterday to hear the change in sentence.

“The High Court judge has revoked the light caning sentence, so Yap will only now need to undergo the 12-month good behaviour bond.

“The decision was made based on provisions under Section 293 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), where two sentences cannot be imposed on an accused.

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

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

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

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

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