A sales assistant was sentenced to 12 years’ jail by the Ampang Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today after finding him guilty of attempting to murder an Umno Youth leader last year.

Judge Manira Mohd Nor made the decision after finding that the defence had failed to raise reasonable on the charge against Mohd Haswan Hashim, 23, at the end of the defence case.

Manira, in ordering Mohd Haswan, 23, to serve the sentence today, rejected his application, made through his lawyer, Muhamad Zarif Othman, for a stay of the sentence.

In the judgment, Manira said Mohd Haswan’s defence was a mere denial and there were contradictions with the witnesses’ testimony.

Mohd Haswan, together with another accused, Mohd Azril Ab Shukor, 29, who had pleaded guilty and now serving his time for the offence, were charged with attacking Kepong Umno Youth leader Norizan Ali with a machete, resulting in injuries to his abdomen, body and hand which could be fatal.

The offence was committed at Jalan Cahaya 2, Ampang at 2.30am on Sept 24, 2012.

Deputy public prosecutor Nadiah Malek Fauzie prosecuted.

- Bernama