Kota Kinabalu: The Magistrate’s Court here fined a café owner RM2,000 or five months jail for assaulting a woman last year.
Soon Chen Siong, 53, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali to voluntarily causing injuries to Judina Ang on July 5, 2023, at 3.50pm, in a vehicle at Tanjung Aru Beach 2.
Soon informed the court that he wished to change his plea to guilty to the charge under Section 323 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to a year or fine of up to RM2,000 or both, on conviction.
The court was informed by the prosecution that, before the incident, the complainant and Soon, who was her boyfriend at the time, went to the location for a jog.
However, a misunderstanding occurred between them while in the vehicle regarding an insurance payment which led to a heated argument.
Soon slapped the complainant forcefully on the head.
Soon then drove off before stopping near Wisma Wanita where he proceeded to choke the complainant and punch her left thigh and right arm, according to the prosecution.
The complainant suffered injuries, the court heard.
Counsel Abdul Razak Jamil, representing Soon, requested a lenient sentence on the grounds that Soon, who is married with five children, is the sole breadwinner for his family.
Soon’s guilty plea demonstrated his remorse for the offence, said Abdul Razak adding that Soon had paid RM15,000 in compensation to the complainant as requested.
The counsel added that Soon has been remanded for five days, which has led him to reflect deeply and feel genuine remorse.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Ling Guong Zhi applied for an appropriate sentence, noting that the case had proceeded to trial with the prosecution’s first witness, the complainant, having testified.
DPP Ling highlighted that the complainant had suffered physical injuries as a result of Soon’s actions, as well as likely experiencing some psychological impact.
In another case, a 41-year-old woman was fined RM1,800 or a month jail for having illegal gambling paraphernalia.
Unemployed Nurul Atika Abdullah admitted to having two 4D lottery tickets without a licence at 3.15pm, on July 29, in a premises at Kg Suang Parai, Manggatal.
Nurul was arrested by police in a raid at the said place after she was found having gambling paraphernalia including a mobile printer, a handphone and RM200 in cash, which were all seized from her.
She was charged under Section 9(1) of the same Act which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or up to six months jail or both on conviction.
Unrepresented, Nurul requested a lenient sentence while the prosecution applied an appropriate sentence.
The court ordered the seized money to be forfeited as government revenue.
