KUALA LUMPUR: A part-time YouTuber from China was fined RM800, in default one month’s jail, by the Magistrate’s Court here for trespassing into the Malaysian Parliament compound.
Magistrate MS Arunjothy meted out the sentence on Li Zhechen, 25, after he pleaded guilty to unlawfully entering the Parliament grounds, which are designated as a restricted area under Section 5(1) of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act.
He committed the offence at 5.30pm on July 9 and was charged under Section 7 of the same Act, which carries a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM1,000, or both, Bernama reported.
According to the facts of the case, Li entered the compound to take photos and videos. On-duty police officers then detained him.
Deputy public prosecutor Adiba Iman Md Hassan earlier urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence to serve as a deterrent to the accused and the public.
Li’s lawyer Lee Ewe Kiang requested a lenient sentence, saying his client was remorseful and had no intention of trespassing into a restricted area.
“On the day of the incident, my client, who was visiting Malaysia as a tourist, had been walking around Perdana Botanical Gardens before accidentally entering the nearby Parliament grounds.
“He apologises to all parties involved,” the lawyer said.
