JOHOR BARU: Two fireworks traders were fined RM2,000 each for causing a blaze that destroyed their stall and two vehicles.
Othman Abu Kasim, 31, and Muhammad Husaini Ehsa, 36, pleaded guilty to negligence for leaving fireworks and explosives at an unsafe distance between their stall and nearby vehicles at Jalan Bunga Kemboja Majidee, Kampung Sulaiman Menteri here at about 8.30pm on March 23.
The charge was brought under Section 286 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which carries a maximum jail term of six months, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, upon conviction.
National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer K. Vijayan, who represented both accused, pleaded for a lenient sentence, saying that Othman is a divorcee working as a technician while Muhammad Husaini, a pest control employee, has three children to support.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Aishah Latif urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence to serve as a lesson to the public.
Magistrate Nabila Nizam ordered both men to pay a fine of RM2,000 each, with four months’ imprisonment in default.
A 44-second video of the incident went viral on social media, showing the pop-up tent used to sell firecrackers and fireworks being razed by the blaze.
The fire also involved two vehicles — a car and a food truck — both of which were completely destroyed.
No casualties were reported in the incident.
