KUCHING: A man was fined RM350 by the Magistrates’ Court here today after pleading guilty to smoking in a prohibited area at Kuching International Airport (KIA) last April.
He was charged under Section 16(2) of the Public Health (Control of Smoking Products) Act 2024, read together with Section 16(3) of the same Act, which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 upon conviction.
State Health Department (JKNS) in a statement said the man was earlier issued a notice of offence under Section 47 of the same Act and was given two months to settle the compound at any Health Office.
However, he failed to appear within the stipulated period, leading to the case being brought to court for further action.
A final reminder was also attempted but enforcement officers were unable to locate him.
The charge was read before Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali.
According to the facts of the case, the offence was committed during ‘Ops Rokok’, conducted by the Kuching Divisional Health Office Enforcement Team at the airport area.
During the proceedings, prosecuting officer, Mohd Fairos Ibrahim, from the Inspectorate and Legal Unit of the Kuching Divisional Health Office urged the court to impose a fitting sentence as a deterrent to the accused and the public.
He said this was to remind the public to be more mindful of no-smoking zones that have long been gazetted, and to obey the laws established for the sake of public health.
