Youth who set dog on fire to be caned

Facing the law: Yap being escorted at the Sessions Court in Johor Baru. — Bernama

JOHOR BARU: The youth who pleaded guilty at the Sessions Court last week to setting a dog on fire will be caned lightly seven times in open court as part of his punishment.

This comes after Sessions judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim made the decision against 18-year-old Braden Yap Hong Sheng here yesterday.Earlier, lawyer G. K. Sritharan, who represented Yap, argued that his client had acted in such a way after being attacked by the dog more than five times.

“He is a good boy and often cycles in that location, where he is often attacked by the dog.

“Yap once suffered a fractured finger after falling off a bicycle as a result of being chased by the dog before. Until now, his hand is still not strong and he cannot do heavy work,” he said.

Sritharan said as a result of the incident, Yap threw flower pots, stones and hit the dog with twigs as an act of self-defence.“However, on the day of the incident, which was on March 27, he hit the dog with a stick before setting the dog on fire using a lighter,” he said.

Sritharan added that the dog had been a victim, but his client was also a victim of the dog’s violence.

Meanwhile, Johor Veterinary Services Department prosecution officer Mohd Zamri Shak Ishak said that the dog also suffered some injuries.

“Among them are bruises and burns on the left thigh, wounds on the front leg and bleeding in the left eye,” he said.

Before handing down his decision, Che Wan Zaidi ordered that the video recording, of Yap abusing and setting the dog on fire, be played in court.

“Your action is cruel and inhumane towards an animal that also has the right to live in peace.

“You will be caned lightly seven times and be placed on a good behaviour bond for one year with a surety of RM10,000 as a result of your action,” he said in his judgement.

The court also ordered that the light caning on Yap be held in open court at 9am on May 21 next month.

Under Section 293 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), when a youthful offender is convicted before any criminal court, the court may instead choose an alternate punishment.

Section 293(1)(c) of the CPC allows the court to order the offender, if male, to be whipped with not more than seven strokes of a light cane within the court premises and in the presence of the parent and guardian.

On April 13, Yap pleaded guilty to the charge of causing excruciating pain to a brown female dog by beating it and setting it on fire.

The act allegedly occurred at 1.49am on March 27 along Jalan Impian Emas 22, Taman Impian Emas.