Datuk Seri fined RM1,000 for hurting security guard

(BRIEF CAPTION) Chin leaving the George Town court building.

GEORGE TOWN: Businessman Datuk Seri Chin Kok Wah was fined RM1,000 by a magistrate’s court after he admitted to hurting a security guard at a lu­­xury condominium in Jelutong here.

Chin, 50, pleaded guilty when he was charged yesterday with vo­­luntarily causing hurt to T. Ramaraj, 44, at the condomi­nium’s lobby on Jan 14.

Chin, who is a resident of the condominium, had used a steel cutter to remove a tyre clamp on his vehicle.

Ramaraj, who recorded him using his handphone, urged him to stop and discuss the matter.

Chin refused to listen and instead hit him on the waist using the steel cutter.

He also tried to snatch the handphone from Ramaraj but failed.

Chin then left but returned to the lobby shortly later to scold and assault the security guard before driving away in his car.

On Jan 16, Chin was taken into custody when he turned up at the district police headquarters in Patani Road to give a statement over the incident.

The offence under Section 323 of the Penal Code carries a maximum one-year jail term and a fine of up to RM2,000 or both, upon conviction.

In mitigation, lawyer Mohd Khairul Fairuz Rahman asked for a lenient sentence as his client was remorseful.

“He is a first-time offender and promised not to repeat the offence,” he said.

DPP Christhoper Enteri Anak Mawan asked for an appropriate punishment in view of public interest.

Chin settled the fine.

A 39-second video clip of the incident went viral on social media and triggered outrage from netizens.

The clip showed Chin trying to remove the clamp from the right front tyre of his Mercedes-Benz with a steel cutter.