A road rage incident triggered by a car horn has landed a 43-year-old salesman behind bars after he was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment and two strokes of the cane for attacking a motorcyclist with a meat cleaver on the Federal Highway.
Azmi Jantan received the sentence from the Sessions Court on Wednesday after maintaining his guilty plea before Judge Ainul Bashiirah Dona Don Biyajid. His jail term will run from the date of his arrest on 11 June.
Azmi admitted to intentionally causing grievous hurt to 45-year-old company executive Mohd Fairus Jaafar by slashing him with a weapon capable of causing death.
The attack took place at Kilometre 14.6 of the Federal Highway motorcycle lane in Section 13 at about 8.19am on 11 June.
He was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine or whipping upon conviction.
According to the case facts, Azmi became enraged after the victim sounded his motorcycle horn while they were travelling along the highway.
He then attacked the victim with a meat cleaver, leaving him with multiple serious injuries, including fractures to his shoulder, arm, fingers and left wrist, as well as a head wound.
During the proceedings, the judge asked Azmi whether he knew the victim, to which he replied that he did not.
When questioned about why he was carrying a meat cleaver, Azmi claimed he had brought it from home because he intended to throw it away.
Asked where he planned to dispose of it, he simply answered: “In the rubbish bin.”
Deputy Public Prosecutor Amir Saifullah Mohammad Sallehuddin urged the court to impose a severe sentence, arguing that the attack stemmed from a trivial matter but resulted in life-threatening injuries.
He said the victim was fortunate to have survived and stressed that the violent assault had caused fear among road users.
The prosecution added that a heavy sentence was necessary to protect the public and serve as a strong deterrent against road rage incidents.
Azmi, who was unrepresented, appealed for a lighter sentence before the court handed down its decision.
