KUALA LUMPUR: Competition between two realtors gone too far landed one of them in prison for assaulting another agent who tried to sell the same house.
Magistrate Saifulakmal Said sentenced Kevin Shane De Cruz, 43, to a day in prison and fined him RM1,000 for unintentionally harming Wong Chen Keong, 38.
It is learnt that the two were agents from different real estate companies.
De Cruz had pleaded guilty to hitting Wong barehanded until the latter suffered bleeding from the head, face and arms, and a severe headache.
According to the statement of facts, Wong had stuck “for sale” posters on houses along Jalan Radin Bagus in Sri Petaling on July 4 last year.
The next day, De Cruz confronted Wong and threatened the latter that he would be beaten up if the posters were not taken down.
When Wong replied that he would call the police, De Cruz started hitting him and threw Wong's phone aside.
Magistrate Saifulakmal asked De Cruz why he had attacked Wong, to which De Cruz replied, "don't know, guess I lost my temper."
In sentencing De Cruz to a fine and prison on Monday, Saifulakmal ruled that this was because the crime had caused injury, whether intentional or not.
"Keep your emotions in check next time," said Saifulakmal.
De Cruz was unrepresented, while DPP Raihanah Abd Razak acted for the prosecution
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