Judicial commissioner Roszianayati Ahmad, in allowing the partial appeal by the prosecution, ordered Ahmad Muizzudin Mohd to be whipped four times.

However, she maintained the one-year jail term beginning May 14 as ordered by the sessions court.

“I am increasing the strokes from two to four as your action would have instilled fear in the victim.

“I dread what you would have done to the victim if (you were) armed with a knife or parang,” she said.

Roszianayati said the increase in the whipping is intended to demonstrate that the court takes the accused’s action seriously and to serve as a deterrent to potential offenders.

However, she said she agreed with lawyer KA Ramu that a long custodial sentence would have served little purpose.

Muizzudin, 22, pleaded guilty to committing armed robbery at a KK Mart outlet on Jalan Jernang Jaya in Bandar Baru Bangi at about 4.20am on May 14.

Armed with an iron baton, he ordered a worker at the outlet, who was manning the cash counter, to hand over RM245.10. He was arrested by police a few hours after the incident.

He pleaded guilty to the robbery charge at the sessions court on July 27.

Before the sentencing, deputy public prosecutor Kamarul Iman had urged the court to impose a jail term of between three and four years, saying Muizzudin must face the consequences of his bold actions.

Ramu submitted that his client is young and should be allowed to turn over a new leaf.

“He has gone through a rehabilitation programme while in prison and expressed remorse over the incident,” he said.