MUAR: A motoring influencer and his younger brother were jailed for one month and ordered to pay a RM1,500 fine each by the Magistrate’s Court here for lodging a false police report about the former's disappearance.
Tengku Nizaruddin Tengku Zainudin, 38, widely known online as Ija, and Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Zainudin, 30, both pleaded guilty to making a false report and conspiring against civil servants at the Lenga police station here at about 11.38pm last Tuesday (July 15).
Based on the facts of the case, the younger accused claimed that the last time he saw Tengku Nizaruddin was at 4pm on July 14 and that his car was found in Sungai Tui, Bukit Kepong about an hour prior.
Tengku Aziz proceeded to report his brother’s disappearance to the police while knowing that the information was untrue.
A search and rescue mission was then called by the Fire and Rescue Department, police and Rela on the same day. Authorities uncovered the ruse at around 12.30am on July 19.
Investigations found that both brothers left Johor Baru separately, where Tengku Nizaruddin was said to have gone to Pagoh while his brother went to another location.
Upon reaching Pagoh, Tengku Nizaruddin was said to have driven the car into the river and then asked his brother to pick him up before entering Thailand via Padang Besar in Perlis.
His movements were logged by the Immigration Department as well as on a flight ticket to Hat Yai Airport dated July 17 that was purchased a day before.
Tengku Nizaruddin later turned himself in at the Muar police station at 1.15am on July 19.
Both brothers were charged under Section 182 of the Penal Code, which provides a maximum prison sentence of six months or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Nur Ameerah Allaudeen and Yasmin Mohd Piah led the prosecution.
National Legal Aid Foundation counsel Nor Hafizah Abdullah, who represented the brothers, told the court that Tengku Nizaruddin’s actions stemmed from his financial problems and not because he wanted to get married in Thailand.
When given the opportunity to say his piece, Tengku Nizaruddin apologised to the public and all those involved as a result of his actions.
“I regret my actions, and I don’t want to go to jail because my wife is six months pregnant,” he said.
Magistrate Suzana Mokhtar sentenced both brothers to one month in prison, and they each have to pay a fine of RM1,500 as well.
If they failed to pay the fine, Tengku Nizaruddin was ordered to serve three months’ imprisonment, while Tengku Aziz was given six months in jail.
Both paid the fine.
