KLANG: A 52-year-old Nepalese man was jailed for 35 years for fatally stabbing another man with scissors during a fight in Port Klang three years ago.
High Court judge Norliza Othman also sentenced P. Saravanan to three years in jail for injuring a 22-year-old woman who was stabbed in the hand while trying to protect the victim.
Both sentences are to run concurrently.
In her 36-page grounds of judgment dated Oct 9, Norliza rejected Saravanan’s claim of self-defence, finding that the evidence showed he had initiated the attack.
She described his defence as a bare denial and found that the injuries inflicted on R. Sumeen, 23, were intentional and involved vital organs, demonstrating his intention to cause serious bodily harm.
In determining the sentence, Norliza considered that Saravanan was a first-time offender and was 52 at the time of the incident.
She said he should be given an opportunity to reform and return to his family in Nepal after serving his sentence.
The incident occurred at 7.45pm on May 8, 2023, at a flat in Taman Chi Liung, Pandamaran.
Sumeen had gone to the flat after being informed of an argument between Saravanan and P. Mithunaah, 22.
Mithunaah had confronted Saravanan over allegations that he had taken and sold her belongings.
During the confrontation, Saravanan allegedly pulled her hair and hit her back, prompting her to strike his leg with a piece of wood.
Sumeen arrived and confronted Saravanan, leading to another argument.
When Mithunaah called Sumeen out of the house, Saravanan followed him carrying a pair of scissors.
Mithunaah tried to shield Sumeen by embracing him, but Saravanan stabbed her in the left hand before stabbing Sumeen in the chest.
Sumeen collapsed and died at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital.
A post-mortem examination found three stab wounds, including one that penetrated the heart and caused his death.
In his defence, Saravanan claimed he had taken the scissors to protect himself after Sumeen struck his head with a piece of wood. He denied stabbing the deceased.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Ashiqin Zulkifli sought the death penalty, arguing that a life had been lost in the attack.