BATU GAJAH: A 64-year-old restaurant owner was fined RM2,000 by a Magistrate’s Court here on Friday (Feb 27) after he pleaded guilty to a charge of killing a stray dog with a firecracker.
Magistrate Azlin Zeti Zainal Abidin handed down the sentence on Wong Phan Sang and ordered him to serve two months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.
According to the charge sheet, Wong was accused of killing the dog by hurling a firecracker at about 7.30pm on Jan 28 at Jalan Seroja, Taman Pusing Baru in Pusing.
The charge was framed under Section 428 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to three years, a fine, or both.
Based on the facts of the case, residents reported hearing a loud explosion near a restaurant.
The following day, a complainant obtained CCTV footage from a neighbour showing the accused throwing an object towards the stray dog, which died at the scene.
A worker from a nearby shop reportedly buried the dog, and the authorities were notified immediately.
Acting on the report, officers from the Criminal Investigation Division in Batu Gajah arrested the suspect on Jan 30 at the Batu Gajah District Police Headquarters compound.
During the investigation, the suspect led police to his residence, where he handed over a plastic container holding a lighter and six ball-type firecrackers of various colours.
The accused later paid the fine.
