KUALA LUMPUR: A former fast food worker was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Sessions Court today for stealing a rented Honda Civic and attempting to murder the vehicle's co-owner in Putrajaya in October.
Judge Izralizam Sanusi sentenced Muhammad Wan Azhar Azman, 20, after finding him guilty of stealing the car and recklessly driving it, knowing it could cause harm to Mohamed Jalil Iskandar, 28.
Jalil had clung to the bonnet of the vehicle, only to be flung off and severely injured.
He ordered Wan Azhar to serve 10 years jail for attempted murder and a 4-year sentence for theft, to be served concurrently.
In delivering his ruling, the judge considered the social report from the Welfare Department, Wan Azhar's plea for a lighter sentence, and the prosecution's aggravating factors.
He advised Wan Azhar, clad in a white T-shirt and black pants and standing in the dock, to change for good.
"The court finds the offences you had committed are very serious. The victim suffered serious injuries and was in the intensive care unit (ICU) for five days and needs long term treatment.
"Had he died, you could have been charged with murder," the judge said, adding that public interest took precedence over personal considerations.
Wan Azhar, who was unrepresented in court, pleaded for a reduced sentence, saying, "I am still young, and I have plans and hopes for my future."
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Aisyah Mohamed Zanyuin called for a maximum 20-year sentence to deter similar crimes and highlight the severity of the offences.
"His actions were selfish. He wanted to flee with the car as he did not want to pay the RM150 rental per day.
"The victim suffered serious head, facial and bodily injuries. He was in the ICU for five days and was treated at the Subang Jaya Medical Centre for three weeks. He had exhausted his insurance and was sent to the University Malaya Medical Centre where he was treated until two weeks ago.
"I was informed he has trouble walking and needs further treatment. His medical report showed he was dragged and he had friction burns on his skin. This episode will bring a lifetime trauma to him.
"An appropriate jail sentence will ensure the society's peace and order, to save people from threats like this and for Wan Azhar to repent and change for the better," she said.
The facts of the case read that on Oct 22, car owner Joshua Jeyaseelan David, 30, had rented the vehicle to Wan Azhar's girlfriend in Bandar Sunway.
She was supposed to return it the next day but was uncontactable.
Joshua used a GPS Tracker and located the car at Presint Diplomatik in Putrajaya and found it being driven at Bulatan Presint 14 by Wan Azhar, who was with his girlfriend.
Jalil had asked Wan Azhar to stop the car, which had been fitted with a different number plate.
However, Wan Azhar refused and reversed and tried to ram into Jalil, who jumped and clung on the bonnet for several kilometres before he was flung off the road.
Wan Azhar was arrested on Oct 25 and led investigators to the car, which was found at a civil servant's public housing in Presint 5.