KUCHING: A 29-year-old man was fined RM1,000 or, in default, one month’s imprisonment by the Magistrate’s Court here for committing mischief by damaging a calculator belonging to a female acquaintance.
Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan meted out the sentence on Abdul Rahman Johari after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
He was charged 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.
According to the charge, Abdul Rahman committed the offence at about 10 am on April 18 at a premises in the Pending area, where he damaged a calculator belonging to the female acquaintance, causing losses estimated at RM35.
Facts of the case revealed that the complainant was at her workplace when the accused arrived and requested to meet her.
However, she informed him that she was unable to do so as she was busy working.
The accused, who became upset, threw a padlock into the office from outside and proceeded to smash a calculator on the desk.
Investigations found that the accused was known to the complainant, as he had previously sold scrap items at the premises and had obtained her contact number for business purposes.
It was understood that he later frequently sent her messages and attempted to meet her.
The accused was arrested on May 1 at 11.45 pm by a team of police officers from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Kuching district police headquarters.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Fauzultfi Suriani, while Abdul Rahman was unrepresented.
