Jamal fined RM400 for causing public nuisance over beer smashing stunt in 2017

SHAH ALAM: Controversial Sungai Besar Umno chief Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos was fined RM400 by the magistrate's court here Wednesday (July 11) for causing public nuisance.

The Red Shirts leader pleaded guilty to committing the offence at the exit gate of Pos (1) Darul Ehsan State Government Secretaries building (Bangunan SUK Darul Ehsan) at 10.15am on Oct 5, 2017.

On May 25, Jamal was charged under Section 290 of the Penal Code with breaking bottles of alcohol in public to protest the Better Beer Festival 2017.

He also apologised to the court as well as to the public if his actions had caused inconvenience to the public.

Magistrate Raja Noor Adila Raja Mahyaldin imposed the maximum fine and one month jail in default of payment.

In his appeal for a lower fine, Jamal who addressed the court, said it was not his intention to cause public nuisance.

He added that he had brought along ten crates of beer worth RM1,800 to be smashed in protest of Oktoberfest which was scheduled to be held in Selangor.

"What I did may have disturbed people but the intention was for it to be a media gimmick to attract public attention that people in Selangor, especially youngsters, should not easily consume alcohol," said Jamal.

Jamal said he believed his protest had led to the Oktoberfest event not being held in Selangor and that the police had also revoked the permit given to the organisers.

He said he had every intention to clean up the mess after the protest.

"We had prepared a truck to clean up the place but the NGO members who were with me were told to leave the place immediately and that is why we could not clean up," he said.