Judge Unaizah Mohd also ordered unemployed A K. Vinuthan, 28, to be given eight strokes of the rotan after the defence failed to raise reasonable doubts on the prosecution’s case.

“After considering the submissions of the prosecution, defence and mitigation of the accused, the court finds the accused guilty and sentences him to 15 years’ jail and eight strokes of the rotan,” he said.

Vinuthan, who was ordered to serve the prison sentence from today, wept while being escorted to the lock-up.

The court handed down the sentence after hearing the testimony of seven prosecution witnesses and two defence witnesses in the trial which began on Oct 31, 2014.

Vinuthan, together with another individual at large, was charged with robbing V Bama, 62, while armed with a knife taking the victim’s jewellery, cash and three laptops, totalling RM50,000.

He committed the offence at Bama’s house in Jalan Wira 1, Taman Grandview Ampang at 2pm on Dec 26, 2013.

He was charged under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and liable to a fine or whipping, upon conviction.

According to the facts of the case, Vinuthan had tricked his way into the victim’s house on the pretext of handing over a wedding invitation card but in reality, intended to rob Bama.

Earlier in mitigation, counsel AS Dhaliwal, appearing for Vinuthan, pleaded for leniency on the grounds that he was young and unmarried and that it was his first offence.

Deputy public prosecutor Goh Ai Rene pressed for a deterrent sentence by taking into account that the offence committed by Vinuthan was serious as it threatened the victim’s life.