KUALA LUMPUR: Two taxi drivers who got carried away with their emotions and damaged a Grab driver's vehicle on Tuesday, were fined RM2,000 by the magistrate's court today.
Mohd Khairul Izwan Alias, 40, and Mohamad Halim Sarbi, 48, both pleaded guilty to the offence.
They told the court that they were of the opinion that ride-sharing services including Uber are against the law.
The duo were jointly charged with damaging a car belonging to one N. Sashi Kumar, 36, at the North Port lobby, Mid Valley in Brickfields here around 2am on June 28.
"To me, Uber and GrabCar services are against the law so I tried to do something about it and maybe I got carried away with my emotions.
"I admit that I committed the offence and plead to not be sentenced to jail. If I do not work and drive my taxi, I would not be able to earn to support my family," Mohd Khairul said in pleading for a minimum fine be imposed on him.
He added that the damages on the car were not inflicted by him alone.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Halim broke down in tears as he pleaded for leniency saying that 'Hari Raya' is near and he wanted to be able to celebrate it.
"I do not want to be sentenced to jail. I plead for a minimum fine be imposed on me," he said.
Magistrate Adira Adnan ordered both of them to serve two months in jail if they fail to pay the fine.
Deputy public prosecutor N. Joy Jothi prosecuted while both accused were unrepresented.
It was reported that a Grab driver was attacked outside the Mid Valley Mega Mall by two irate taxi drivers angry with him for invading their turf.
The 35-year-old man, was attacked as he was picking up two customers at 2am from the shopping mall’s North Court lobby.