Man fails in attempt to escape armed robbery charges

GEORGE TOWN: A man made a short-lived dash for freedom after he was convicted for armed robbery at the Penang Court complex today.
Muhammad Elias Muhammad Yusoff, 27, appeared shocked after Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah found him guilty.
He suddenly bolted out of the dock and out of the courtroom on the first floor and headed for the exit at about 10.15am.
His route led him down a flight of stairs where he managed to just about reach the guard house before he was subdued by court police and security guards chasing after him.
They then handcuffed him and brought the still struggling shop assistant back to the dock for sentencing.
The court earlier found him guilty of robbing one Norhaizam Borhan, 36, of RM400 cash, a Samsung Corby and a Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone with a "kerambit" (crescent curved blade).
He committed the offence at the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) public toilet at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling about 4.30am on Sept 16, 2013.
DPP Charanjit Singh was asking for the court to impose a deterrent sentence when Muhammad Elias darted out. When proceedings resumed, Zulhazmi sentenced Muhammad Elias to six years jail and two strokes of the cane.
Defence counsel R.S. N. Rayer then asked for a stay pending an appeal to the High Court which was allowed with bail fixed at RM20,000 and two sureties.
Rayer later told the media he was informed that his client will not be charged for attempting to escape after he apologised to the court on behalf of Muhammad Elias.
“The accused was shocked and confused with the verdict, that is why he ran away. The court will not charge him for the offence as I have already apologised on his behalf,” he said.