JOHOR BARU: A 56-year-old lorry driver has been fined RM1,000 by a Magistrate's Court here for causing RM29.90 in damage to his neighbour's house in Pasir Gudang.
Nhizam Jalar pleaded guilty after the charge was read to him in front of Magistrate Nur Fatin Mohamad Farid on Monday (Feb 12).
According to the charge sheet, the accused had intentionally broken the door handle of a house belonging to a 37-year-old woman at 1.50am on Jan 10.
His act caused total damage of RM29.90.
The offence was framed under Section 427 of the Penal Code for committing mischief, which carries a jail term of between one year and five years and a fine, or both, if convicted.
The case was prosecuted by DPP R. Nevina, and the accused was represented by Nurhazneena Zureen Jasleen Mohd Hanafiah.
During the proceeding, Nurhazneena informed the court that the accused was earlier charged with the offence before Magistrate Hidayatul Syuhada Shamsudin on Jan 15.
At the time, he pleaded not guilty and bail was set at RM5,000 with one surety.
However, he could not afford to post bail and had been in the remand lockup for 29 days since his arrest, until he decided to change his plea on Monday.
Nurhazneena also informed the court that the accused was the sole breadwinner in his family and was taking care of his 13-year-old OKU son.
The court then imposed the fine in default one month's jail. Nhizam paid the fine.
