Kota Kinabalu: A 51-year-old businesswoman, who punched her neighbour – also a businesswoman – last year, was fined RM1,200 or three months’ jail by the Magistrates’ Court, Tuesday.
Salbiah Saib pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to one Hafizah Lawan, 39, by punching her face on Jan 28, 2024, at 1.10pm, on the first floor of the One Place Mall, Putatan.
The offence, under Section 323 of the Penal Code, carries a jail term of up to one year or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, on conviction.
Inspector Kelvan Elson Maik, prosecuting, informed the court that the complainant had lodged a police report stating that she was assaulted by a woman named Jelita (Salbiah) when she was about to enter a toilet in the mall.
An argument ensued between the complainant and Salbiah, during which Salbiah punched her.
Salbiah was arrested by police on Jan 31, the same year at her premises following the police report.
Police investigations revealed swelling on the complainant’s eyebrow, the prosecution stated.
Counsel Prem Elmer Ganasan, representing Salbiah, requested a lower bail amount, citing that Salbiah, who is married with four children and owner of a small business, was remorseful of her actions, which stemmed from a minor disagreement with the complainant, a neighbouring businesswoman.
Prem further added that the case had been discharged not amounting to an acquittal on Aug 15, last year, and noted that the medical report indicated there were no visible injuries on the complainant.
The prosecution applied a deterrent sentence.
In another case, two men were each fined RM100 or three days jail for fraudulently having money deposited into their respective bank accounts.
Hendrick Wong pleaded guilty before Magistrate Marilyn to having RM2,000 in his BSN account, in which he failed to give a satisfactory explanation on how he obtained them on Nov 4, 2024 in Putatan.
Md Haszrul Ariffin admitted to having RM1,900 in his CIMB bank, in which he failed to give a satisfactory explanation on how he obtained them on Nov 16, last year in Penampang.
They were each charged under Section 22A (1) of the Minor Offences Ordinance (MOO), which provides a fine of RM100 or up to three months jail or both on conviction.
Meanwhile, an unemployed 22-year-old man claimed trial for trespassing into a condominium unit.
Md Iskandar Abd Adis was accused of sneaking into the unit at K-Avenue Condominium in Penampang on Dec 12, 2024 at 4.40pm.
The charge is framed under Section 448 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution proposed bail at RM5,000 while duty counsel Carmen Khoo, representing Iskandar requested a lower bail amount as he was unemployed and taking care of his ailing mother.
The court set March 10 for pre-trial case management and released the accused on a bail of RM1,800 in two sureties.
Inspector Yusdi Basri prosecuted.
