"My Client Can Go On With His Life" — Johor Man Who Set Dog On Fire Evades Public Caning
The teenager's lawyer also said his client had fractured his hand during the incident, and that caning could inflict further injury.
By Parvinsivam Thirunamakarasu — 22 May 2023, 12:48 PM
Remember the Johor teenager who hit a dog with a metal rod and set it on fire?
In April, the Johor Bahru Sessions Court had ordered Braden Yap Hong Sheng to be given seven strokes of light caning and put on a one-year good behaviour bond with a surety of RM10,000.
However, yesterday, 21 May, High Court Judge Abu Bakar Katar ruled to overturn the caning sentence, but upheld the one-year good behaviour bond
According to The Star, the decision was made based on a rule under Section 293 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), where two sentences cannot be imposed on an accused.
The judge explained that the Sessions Court had given Yap a light caning and a good behaviour bond, which cannot be done, so now he will only have to undergo the 12-month bond of good behaviour.
Yap's lawyer, GK Sritharan, has also confirmed that his client will only be serving the one-year bond
Braden Yap Hong Sheng (centre) and his lawyer GK Sritharan (right) outside the Johor Bahru Sessions Court.
Image via Channel News AsiaAccording to Channel News Asia, Sritharan said his client should not get involved in any offences during the next 12 months.
"Of course, the (overturning of the caning sentence) will make this case viral again — they will say 'it's not fair' etc, but it will be ok. My client can go on with his life," he said.
He also mentioned that Yap had fractured his hand during the incident with the dog, and that caning could inflict further injury.
"One arm was already broken and he has not recovered fully from it. And to inflict harm on him now may be too harsh, I don't know," explained Sritharan.
