3 youths whipped in open court

It was uncommon and instant justice.

Three youths were whipped in open court as punishment for committing armed robbery, Malaysia's The Star reported on Saturday.

The offenders, all wearing jeans, managed to maintain their composure during the whipping.

But some of their parents watching from the public gallery were seen sobbing.

The youths were personal trainer Firman Shah Marzuki, 20, mechanics Mohammad Talip Abd Kadir, 19, and Hazmirul Zulkafli, 18, who were juveniles when they committed the crime.

Ampang Sessions Judge Manira Mohd Nor had sentenced the three to two strokes of the rotan each, plus a RM5,000 (S$1,950) bond of good behaviour each, with one surety.

The judge had decided to spare them jail time, ruling that the provision for youthful offenders would give them a better chance to be rehabilitated.

Firman, Mohammad Talip, Hazmi rul and dispatch boy Mohd Ramdan Mohd Ali, 23, had pleaded guilty, on Sept 2, to using a knife to rob Yeo Chai Nee, 30, of his car, a camera, a mobile phone and RM600 cash last year.

But Mohd Ramdan was sentenced to five years' prison and four strokes of the rotan, as he was not a juvenile at the time of the offence.

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