KOTA KINABALU: A man who was caught smoking at an airport hallway has been slapped with a RM700 fine or in default one month's jail by the Magistrate's Court here.
The accused, Bobby Umoi, pleaded guilty to the charge under Regulation 11(1)(g) of the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations 2004 before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles who meted the sentence on the 49-year-old here on Tuesday (Aug 8).
The accused admitted to committing the offence at a non-smoking area at 8.15pm on July 21, 2022.
The offence, punishable under Regulation 11(3) of the same law, provides for a fine of up to RM10,000 or a maximum two years' jail on conviction.
Umoi, who was without legal counsel, requested for leniency from the court during mitigation, saying he did not earn much as a car washer and had six children.
He added that he did not have the money to settle the RM250 compound notice issued by health enforcers to him on Sept 27 last year.
Prosecuting officer Arnila Ahmad, who appeared for the Health Ministry, urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence to serve as a lesson to the accused as well as the public on smoking in public areas.
She said while the offence was compoundable, the accused had failed to pay the RM250 although he was given the opportunity to do so until December last year.
The accused later paid his fine.
