KUANTAN: A cook at a religious school has been sentenced to a year’s jail and ordered to be whipped six times for consuming liquor.
Mohd Sabri Zulkepli, 24, pleaded guilty at the Kuantan Syariah High Court yesterday to committing the offence in Kuantan Parade about 5.30pm on Feb 13.
His jail sentence runs from Feb 13, the date of his arrest.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Abdul Rahman Mohd Yunos said the court felt a jail sentence would be a good lesson for the accused.
He rejected Mohd Sabri’s mitigation plea for a fine of RM2,000 and to be whipped three times.
The court, he said, was of the vi ew that a maximum fine of RM5,000 should have been imposed on the accused.
“However, he earns RM550 a month and he comes from a poor family. He may not be able to pay the fine,” he said.
“The accused can use the time spent in jail to reflect on how to lead a better life,” he said.
Mohd Sabri had initially claimed trial to the charge on Feb 18. However, he changed his plea on March 3.
Outside the court, Mohd Sabri’s father, Zulkepli, told reporters that they would appeal against the sentence.