KUCHING: A 40-year-old man was fined RM2,000, in default five months’ imprisonment, by the Magistrates’ Court here on Tuesday (April 21) for damaging a car belonging to a childhood acquaintance earlier this month.
Ng Zhi Hua pleaded guilty to the charge read before Magistrate Nur Syaheeqa Nadzwa Radzali.
The court also ordered him to pay RM1,000 in compensation to the victim within 30 days from the date of sentencing.
According to the charge, he committed the offence at about 12.45am on April 2 at a house in Taman Riverview, Bintawa.
He was accused of damaging multiple parts of a Nissan Almera, including the windscreen, front driver’s side mirror, rear passenger side mirror, right front light and bonnet, causing losses amounting to RM14,863.22.
The offence falls under Section 427 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of not less than one year and up to five years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Facts of the case revealed that the victim discovered the damage to his vehicle and subsequently lodged a police report.
Police arrested the accused on April 16 at about 8.30pm at a residence in Bintawa following investigations.
It was also understood that the complainant was unsure of the motive behind the act, noting that he had known the accused since their primary and secondary school days, and no prior disputes reported.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazly appeared for the prosecution while the accused was unrepresented.
