A construction worker was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and one stroke of the rotan by the Pasir Mas Sessions Court in Kelantan for possession of a dangerous weapon - a stingray’s tail.

The accused, 26-year-old Abdul Halim Samsuddin, who did not have a lawyer, pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Badrul Munir Mohd Hamdy.

He was charged under Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 (Revised 1988) for carrying a dangerous weapon in a public place, which provides for a minimum punishment of five years imprisonment which can extend up to 10 years and whipping.

Halim was accused of possessing a dangerous weapon in the form of a stingray’s tail measuring 114cm without a legitimate reason.

He was arrested in the thicket by Sungai Kelantan at Kampung Sat in Tanah merah at around 2pm on July 26.

According to the facts of the case, police had raided a lorry workshop and found the man in a Proton Persona in the area with another individual.

When police approached him, the man fled on foot and was arrested.

He was then frisked and the stingray’s tail was found in his right pocket. He also failed to furnish his MyKad.

The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Hajarul Falenna Abu Bakar.

Hajarul Falenna had requested for an appropriate punishment to defer the accused from repeating the offence and serve a lesson to the public.

She argued that the possession of a stingray’s tail in a public place could lead to injury.

The five-year jail sentence will start on the day of his arrest on July 26.