SHAH ALAM: The High Court here has sentenced a businessman to four months’ jail, effective immediately, for causing hurt and making death threats to a senior citizen in a recent road rage incident along Jalan Cheras-Hulu Langat.
Justice Datuk Aslam Zainuddin delivered the ruling on Wednesday (Feb 25), setting aside the Kajang Magistrate’s Court’s Feb 10 decision to impose a RM5,500 fine on 52-year-old Saiful Adli Yusof.
Aslam said the High Court, under Section 323 of the Criminal Procedure Code, recalled the case, overturned the lower court’s decision, and imposed a custodial sentence in its place.
During the proceedings, the 70-year-old victim, Liew Khoon Foo, read his impact statement in Mandarin, describing severe trauma.
He said he feared leaving home or driving and had sustained serious injuries, including six stitches to his tongue, making eating difficult.
"I fear he may hold a grudge and come after me again. I feel unsafe because he is extremely violent, and I appeal for an appropriate sentence," he said.
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Saiful Adli’s lawyer, Muhammad Syakir Haznal, submitted that his client did not immediately lunge to assault the victim. Instead, he first knocked on the car door, and a discussion took place between the two men.
Meanwhile, Saiful Adli, speaking from the dock, admitted he lost his judgment after his multi-purpose vehicle was struck by the victim, causing his three-day-old child to slip from his wife’s arms and fall.
"I had honked, but he fled, ran a red light, and we pursued him for about 500 metres. At the time, I was on my way to find a breast pump,” he said.
Deputy public prosecutor Shahrul Ekhsan Hasim described the respondent’s actions as extremely cruel. Based on a review of viral footage, he noted that the victim was both kicked and punched.
"This country has laws. The respondent’s conduct amounts to reckless road rage and bullying, causing injury and threats. We urge the court to reassess the sentence to instil a sense of accountability," he said.
On Feb 10, the Kajang Magistrate’s Court fined Saiful Adli RM5,500 after he pleaded guilty to two charges of causing hurt and criminal intimidation against Liew along Jalan Cheras-Hulu Langat on Feb 8.
Magistrate Fatin Dayana Jalil imposed the fine in default eight months' jail.
He was accused of intentionally injuring Liew by punching and kicking him in the face and body at Jalan Cheras-Hulu Langat, Batu 9, Cheras, at 4.05pm on the day of the incident.
The charge was brought under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries up to one year's imprisonment, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction.
The father of four was also charged under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation at the same time and location, an offence punishable with up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. – Bernama
