KOTA TINGGI: A lorry driver was sentenced to 60 years in jail and ordered to be given eight strokes of the cane for attacking his family members, including his wife and mother-in-law, with a parang.

       Mohd Hadi Hashim, 38, pleaded guilty to all four charges that were read at the Kota Tinggi Sessions Court here yesterday.

       He was charged separately for slashing his mother-in-law, his wife’s younger sister, teenage brother and wife during the 7.45pm incident on April 14 in Jalan Siakap, Kampung Sedili Kecil, here.

       Sessions Court judge Norsiah Ujang sentenced him to 15 years in jail and two strokes of the cane for each of the charges starting from the date of arrest, bringing the total to 60 years’ imprisonment and eight strokes of the cane.

       She ordered that the jail terms be served concurrently.

       According to the facts of the case, Mohd Hadi first went for his mother-in-law Puasa Yasik, 57, where he gagged and held onto her.

       When the elder woman managed to struggle herself free from his clutches, Mohd Hadi took a 79cm-long parang near the kitchen sink and slashed her in the head and arms.

       Following the commotion, his sister-in-law Norwadiha Rosli, 32, came out of her bedroom to help her mother and ended up getting slashed in the head by the accused.

       The accused was also charged with striking his 16-year-old brother-in-law in the head and neck with the parang, causing him to fall unconscious when the boy tried to call for help using a mobile phone in the living room.

       Facing the music: Mohd Hadi in tears as he is brought out of the Kota Tinggi Sessions Court. — THOMAS YONG/The Star

       Mohd Hadi then went to his bedroom and slashed his wife Norwahida Rosli, 32, in the head while she tried to hide from him.

       After that, the accused fled the scene in a Honda Accord and a neighbour reported the incident to the police.

       He was arrested on April 20 in Jalan Persiaran Indahpura 4, Kulai.

       He was charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine or caning, upon conviction.

       Mohd Hadi, who stood with his head bowed while the charge sheet and facts of the case were read in court, said he understood the charges and consequences before pleading guilty to all four charges.

       In mitigation, Mohd Hadi, represented by lawyer Nurshuhadah Mahzan from the National Legal Aid Foundation, claimed he had just got home from work before the incident and was tired.

       “According to him, his mother-in-law pressed him about a sum of money totalling RM4,000, which sparked the incident.

       “The accused, who only earns RM1,300 as a lorry driver, said he was tired upon returning home and the constant pressing caused him to lose his head,” she said, adding that his guilty plea had saved the court’s time.

       However, deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Irsyad Mardi said pleading guilty early on should not be a free pass for a reduction of sentence for the accused as his actions caused severe injuries to four of his own family members, including an underage boy.

       “As a result, the three wounded women could not work and the boy also could not attend school due to the ordeal, which left them traumatised,” he said.

       After the sentencing, the handcuffed Mohd Hadi was seen in tears as he was led out of the courtroom by several policemen.