SEREMBAN, 1 FEBRUARY, 2012: The Magistrate's Court here sentenced a police constable to six months' jail for shooting a teenager without any justification, two years ago.

Magistrate Nor Azlina Hashim ruled that she found no justification which warranted the accused, Mohd Hakimi Shamsul, to shoot Mohd Azizi Azri Aziz, 20.

Nor Azlina however allowed a stay of the sentence pending an appeal by the prosecution, and raised the bail amount from RM3,000 to RM8,000 with one surety.

Mohd Hakimi, 21, was charged with shooting Mohd Azizi Azri, 20, without any justification, causing him injury, at Jalan Jelebu near here at 3pm on May 8, 2010.

He was charged under Section 37 of the Firearms Act 1960 which carries a maximum two year's jail or fined RM5,000 or both.

According to the fact of the case, the incident started at a shopping mall in Jalan Datuk Siamang Gagap, near here when a police patrol car with two personnel including Mohd Hakimi was chasing after a group of motorcyclists including Mohd Azizi Azri.

The group then dispersed with the Mohd Hakimi going in the direction of Jalan Jelebu with the patrol car in pursuit. Police fired several warning shots, one of them from the gun belonging to Mohd Hakimi, hitting Mohd Azizi Azri on the stomach.

Mohd Azizi Azri was then arrested.

Mohd Hakimi's lawyer, Param Sundram urged the court to impose a fine, saying that this was his client's first offence and that he had just started his job as a policeman at the time of incident.

Deputy Public Prosecutor, Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin however called for a commensurate sentence as the accused had no strong grounds to fire the shot other than to stop Mohd Azizi Azri.


- Bernama