KAJANG: A jobless man in a viral video depicting kitten abuse has been sentenced to six months' jail by the Sessions Court here after failing to pay a RM60,000 fine for animal cruelty.
Judge Khainur Aleeza Ismail meted out the fine on Toh Teck Hooi, 49, after he pleaded guilty to the charge on Tuesday (April 7).
The court also ordered him to serve the jail term immediately upon default of the fine payment.
Toh was accused of abusing a black male kitten by repeatedly throwing it against a wall and a mattress at a self-service laundromat in Taman Kajang Prima between 3am and 4am on Thursday (April 2).
The charge, framed under Section 29(1)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, provides for a fine ranging from RM20,000 to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both upon conviction.
The accused was also found to have recorded and uploaded a video of the incident, which showed him repeatedly throwing the kitten.
Acting on a public complaint, Animal Welfare officers from the Selangor Veterinary Services Department inspected the scene on Friday (April 3) and rescued the animal.
An initial examination found that the kitten had sustained an injury to its right hind leg and appeared weak and unresponsive.
The accused was subsequently remanded for four days from Saturday (April 4) to assist investigations. – Bernama
