A father from Sabah has been sentenced to 12 months in prison by the Magistrate's Court after pleading guilty to a crime of threatening his 13-year-old son last August. Magistrate Don Stiwin Malanjum imposed the sentence on the defendant, Ardi Aris, 32. According to the charge, the accused was accused of making criminal threats with the intention of instilling fear in his 13-year-old son at their family home.
The incident occurred when the accused visited his former in-law's house, rushed into the kitchen, and grabbed a knife, directing and threatening the boy to perform prayers. Despite the fear, the victim obeyed his father's instructions, while his aunt immediately contacted the police. For the offence, he was charged under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment or a fine or both.
Prosecuting Officer, Crime Investigation Division, Tawau District Police Headquarters, Assistant Superintendent Nur Intan Jamrin led the prosecution, although the accused was not represented by a lawyer. The accused, who worked at a car wash, had already divorced his wife and had previously been referred to the Mesra Bukit Padang Hospital in Kota Kinabalu due to suspected mental health issues. In his plea, the accused requested the court to lighten the sentence, expressing remorse and claiming to have repented for his actions.
