KUALA LUMPUR: A bodyguard of the Tengku Mahkota of Johor has been fined RM1,000 by the Magistrate's Court here for causing harm to a disabled e-hailing driver five months ago.
L/Kpl Muhammad Taufik Ismail pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to Ong Ing Keong, 47, in front of the lobby at the St. Regis Hotel at about 11.40am on May 28.
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He was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, if convicted.
Wearing a black collared T-shirt and beige trousers, the accused said he understood the charge and pleaded guilty.
His lawyer Ashok Athimulan sought a lenient sentence on grounds that this was his client's first offence.
He said L/Kpl Muhammad Taufik, who is currently attached to Bukit Aman police headquarters, has been in service for nine years with a good record under his belt.
"The accused has made a guilty plea at the first instance and this saves the court's time and cost. An early plea indicates his remorse and regret. He apologises to the victim," Ashok said.
The lawyer said the victim sustained a soft tissue injury and was not grievously hurt.
"The accused was carrying out his duty as an escorting officer and this is not organised crime," Ashok added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Razali Che Ani said that the case had caught widespread attention from the public and asked the court to mete out a deterrent sentence that serves as a lesson.
Magistrate Farah Nabihah Muhammad Dan then passed the sentence and ordered for the accused to serve 20 days in jail should he fail to pay the fine.
Ashok told the press that his client will be paying the fine today.
According to the facts of the case, Ong was picking up a passenger at the hotel lobby when he saw a group of men including the accused who behaved like bodyguards. One of them had shown him hand gestures for him to leave the area. However, the victim did not understand as he was deaf and mute.
Ong then rolled down his window to ask in sign language and he was suddenly punched by the accused on his face.
He left the place to drop off his passenger at a destination and subsequently made a police report.
A medical report stated that the victim suffered swelling on the right side of his face.
