KUCHING: A 30-year-old man was fined RM3,000 in default six months imprisonment by the Magistrates’ Court here today (June 23) for damaging his neighbour’s car back in April.
Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan meted out the sentenced Jemurphy Jenim, after he pleaded guilty to the first charge under Section 427 of the Penal Code, which provides imprisonment of between one and five years, a fine, or both upon conviction.
Jemurphy was charged with committing mischief by punching the fender of a Proton Persona belonging to his 26-year-old neighbour, causing damage amounting to RM1,052.
The offence was committed at about 12.22 pm on April 4 at Kampung Bumbok, Jalan Batu Kitang.
The court also sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment after he admitted to a second charge, where he threatened to cause hurt to the same victim at the same location and time.
The offence was charged under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum imprisonment term of two years, a fine, or both.
According to the facts of the case, the complainant was seated inside her car at her residence when the accused, who is also her neighbour, approached her in an angry state and struck the vehicle on the driver’s side, causing damage.
Investigations revealed that the accused had frequently gone to the complainant’s house and engaged in arguments with her and her family members.
During the incident, the accused also uttered the words “Okuk mooh muu tiak” in Bidayuh, which translates to “I will hit you later” in English.
The threat was heard by the complainant’s mother, who also witnessed the accused damaging the vehicle.
It was understood that she did not know the reason behind the accused’s actions, although Jemurphy had allegedly accused her father of influencing her to hate him.
She denied the allegation and stated that she had never had any personal problems with the accused despite them having been neighbours for many years.
It was also understood that there had been a verbal argument between the complainant’s sister and the accused on Jan 22 this year, but no threats or property damage occurred during that incident.
The accused was arrested by a team from the Padawan District Police Headquarters (IPD) Criminal Investigation Department at his residence in Kampung Bumbok at about 7.05pm on the same day.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazly prosecuted the case, while the accused was unrepresented.
