A father, Ardi Aris, aged 32, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to criminal intimidation against his 13-year-old son, Zack Azroy.
The sentencing took place at the magistrate’s court in Tawau, and Magistrate Don Stiwin Malanjum imposed the sentence under Section 506 of the Penal Code.
M’sian man pulls knife on 13yo son for not praying
The charge against Ardi Aris stemmed from an incident that occurred on August 4, when he allegedly brandished a knife with the intention of causing fear to his son, Zack Azroy.
The incident unfolded at their family home on Jalan Tiku, around 9 a.m.
The Penal Code Section 506 under which he was charged carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The prosecution in the case was led by Assistant Superintendent Nur Intan Jamrin of the Tawau district police headquarters Crime Investigation Division.
In the event, Ardi Aris represented himself in court, lacking legal counsel.
A father’s menace
The incident transpired when Ardi Aris visited his former in-law’s house, and without warning, he rushed into the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and menacingly approached his 13-year-old son while brandishing the weapon, reported NST.
Ardi instructed Zack to pray, causing great fear and distress to the young boy.
The frightened victim eventually complied with his father’s demands, and it was only when a concerned aunt contacted the police that authorities became aware of the situation.
Accused’s previous hospital referral for suspected issues
Ardi Aris, who works at a car wash facility, is divorced from his wife and had previously been referred to the Mesra Bukit Padang Hospital in Kota Kinabalu due to suspected mental health issues.
In his appeal to the court, the accused expressed remorse and requested a more lenient sentence, asserting that he had repented for his actions.
In response to the case, Magistrate Don Stiwin Malanjum ordered the 12-month imprisonment sentence to commence from the date of Ardi Aris’s arrest, which was August 4, 2023.
