MELAKA: A 27-year-old trader has been fined RM3,500 for assaulting a motorist with a crash helmet.
Magistrate N. Sivashangari meted out the penalty after Muhammad Ariff Izzat Shahrudin pleaded guilty to the offence here on Friday (April 4).
According to the charge sheet, the accused struck the 52-year-old victim with a helmet, causing injuries, during the incident along Jalan Utama Cheng on March 27.
The charge was framed under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means or weapons, which carries a prison term of up to 10 years, a fine, caning, or any combination of the two, upon conviction.
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The accused, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a lighter sentence, citing financial burdens, including supporting his family as well as outstanding debts related to his business premises.
However, prosecuting officer Insp T. Veramuthu requested an appropriate punishment, noting that the incident had gained widespread public attention after going viral on social media.
The court then fined Ariff Izzat RM3,500 in default six months' jail.
On March 29, it was reported that a trader had been arrested after allegedly assaulting a man with a helmet, causing him to collapse on the road.
Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Christopher Patit was quoted as saying that police became aware of the incident through a 17-second video clip that went viral on Facebook.
He added that the altercation was believed to have stemmed from a misunderstanding on the road, which escalated into a physical confrontation.
