IPOH: A married couple has been jointly charged at a Magistrate's Court here for splashing red paint on a car at a house in Menglembu Bestari.
Food delivery rider M. Dhinakaran and B. Rahtheneswary, both 34, were read the charge under Section 426 of the Penal Code before Magistrate S. Punitha on Friday (July 10).
Both were said to have committed the offence on June 8 at about 8.30am.
Dhinakaran pleaded guilty while Rahtheneswary, who works as a caregiver for disabled children, claimed trial.
Punitha ordered Dhinakaran to pay a RM2,500 fine in default seven months in jail.
As for Rahtheneswary, the Magistrate set bail at RM2,000 with one surety and Aug 19 for mention.
Both had earlier claimed trial to three joint charges at the Sessions Court to committing mischief in relation to illegal moneylending activities at several locations here.
On another separate charge, Dhinakaran pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 427 of the Penal Code.
He was said to have committed mischief by splashing red paint on the gate and car at a house on Dataran Tasek Timur 7, Taman Restu Jaya, causing about RM1,800 in damages on June 5 at about 5.20am.
When pleading for a lenient punishment, defence counsel Robert S Gnanarajan, from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK), said Dhinakaran earns about RM1,500 a month.
He said the accused had borrowed from loan sharks and was forced to commit the offence after not being able to pay back the debt.
"He repented and promised not to repeat the offence," he said.
Punitha ordered the accused to pay RM2,500 in default six months in jail.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Zulqarnain Wan Asmira prosecuted.
At another separate Magistrate's Court, Dhinakaran and Rahtheneswary were jointly slapped with one more charge under Section 426 of the Penal Code for causing damage to a property at Dataran Pengkalan Barat in Taman Temara on June 4 at about 5.30am.
Rahtheneswary claimed trial while Dhinakaran pleaded guilty.
Magistrate Norizan Riduan ordered Dhinakaran to pay a fine of RM2,500 in default seven months in jail.
She set bail at RM2,000 for Rahtheneswary with.one surety and Aug 12 for her to look for a lawyer.
Canice Chan and EP. Seeralasittan, from the YBGK, represented Dhinakaran and Rahtheneswary, during the proceedings while DPP S. Nishaalini prosecuted.
