SEREMBAN: A 25-year-old petty trader was sentenced to six months’ jail by a Magistrate's Court here after pleading guilty to splashing red paint at two homes here.
Mohamad Saiful Zulkefli did not contest the charges after they were read to him before Magistrate Norzaliza Tesmin.
For the first charge, Mohamad Saiful was accused of committing the offence on behalf of a moneylender at a house belonging to a 38-year-old businessman in Taman Rasah Jaya around 2pm on July 22.
According to the facts of the case, a CCTV recording had captured the man arriving in a silver-coloured car and then splashing paint on the victim's house and car.
The accused also left a note behind, warning the businessman to pay up his dues failing which his house will be splashed with petrol.
Mohamad was charged under Section 29B(2) of the Moneylending Act 1951 which carries a fine of up to RM20,000 or a jail term of up to 12 months or both upon conviction.
For the second charge, Mohamad Saiful was accused of splashing red paint at the home and on a car belonging to a 40-year-old woman in Taman Pinggiran Golf around 1.50pm on July 25.
He was also caught on CCTV leaving behind a note warning the owner to settle her debts
He was charged under Section 29B(1) of the same legislation which provides a fine of up to RM100,000 or a jail term not exceeding 15 months or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Muhaimin Mohd Azman then asked the court to impose a sentence that commensurate the offences and which would be a deterrent to would-be-offenders.
Iwana Sakinah Mohd Lajis from the Legal Aid Bureau who appeared for the accused appealed for a minimum sentence as this was his first offence.
She said Mohamad Saiful was only a petty trader who earned RM1,000 a month.
Norzaliza then ordered the accused to be jailed six months for each offence. However, both sentences would run concurrently.
