A car washer was sentenced to five years' jail and one stroke of the cane by the Sessions Court here today after he pleaded guilty to possessing a 25-inch meat cleaver in a public place.

Judge Noradura Hamzah meted out the sentence against K. Murugan, 32, who committed the offence in front of a house, at Lengkungan Jambu Gajus, Jinjang Selatan, here at about 11.15pm on July 18.

The court ordered the accused to serve the jail sentence from the date of arrest on July 23.

Murugan was charged under Section 6(1) of the Corrosive, Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958, which provides a maximum of 10 years' jail and whipping, upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Farith Muhammad Faizal appeared for the prosecution.

The accused, who was unrepresented, appealed for leniency on the grounds that he had to support his parents with his RM800 monthly income and this was his first offence.

- BERNAMA