Kota Kinabalu: A single mother was fined RM2,000 or two months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court here, Monday, for damaging government property last year, resulting in a loss of RM3,700.
Kalina Wong Ka Yee, 32, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Mohd Syukri Mokhtar to committing the mischief by damaging a printer unit, LCD monitor and CPU belonging to the Sabah Youth and Sports Ministry, here.
The offence took place on July 4, 2023, at 1.45pm, at a Sabah Youth and Sports Ministry office on the 10th floor of Block B, Wisma Muis.
Wong’s case came up for trial on Monday, in which the prosecution was ready with two witnesses.
Counsel Datuk Ram Singh, representing Wong, informed the court that the defence was also ready but told the court that she wished to change her plea to guilty to the charge under Section 427 of the Penal Code.
The charge carries a jail term of between one year and five years or with fine, or both, on conviction.
The facts of the case presented by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Yuvan Bharathan stated, among others, that on the day in question, prior to the incident, the complainant, Datuk Mansur Asun, was in his office when his then-wife, Wong, entered the premises and hurled threats at him.
DPP Yuvan stated that Wong’s actions were a result of her dissatisfaction with their domestic affairs and that during the altercation, she threw books and papers from the complainant’s desk and caused damage to both government property and the complainant’s personal belongings.
The incident was witnessed by several officers and staff members from the Ministry, said Yuvan.
During the mitigation hearing, Ram informed the court that Wong was a first-time offender and that at the time of the incident, she and the complainant were married, but they had divorced recently.
Wong is now a single mother of one, responsible for caring for her child and her mother, and she is currently studying, he said.
Ram cited a case in which the court focused more on the reasons behind the incident rather than the damage caused.
He argued that, similarly, the circumstances between the ex-husband and the accused were personal and not the concern of the counsel or the parties involved.
Ram proposed a fine of RM2,000 and submitted that the actions warranted a lighter sentence for the accused.
In reply, Yuvan applied for an appropriate sentence.
The court also ordered Wong’s bail to be refunded. Wong paid the fine.
