TAWAU: The magistrate's court here today imposed a fine of RM3,500 on a plantation worker who was working for an illegal loan shark syndicate.
The accused, Mohd Abdul Haireen Mohd Ilham, 29, pleaded guilty to splashing red paint and posting a threat notice at a borrower's family home last week.
He made the plea after the charge was read to him by a court interpreter before magistrate Dayang Aidaku Amira Aminuddin.
According to the charge, the plantation worker was accused of committing mischief by splashing red paint on the door and walls, as well as posting a threat notice, causing the owner to incur a loss of RM25.
The offence was committed at a house owned by Amezanshah Sezwan, at Batu 6, Jalan Apas, here, around 2. 30pm on Aug 24. The accused was charged under Section 427 of the Penal Code, which provides for a prison sentence of between one to five years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
The prosecution was led by Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Kadisun, while the accused was represented by National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer, Jhessary P. Kang.
Earlier, in his plea for leniency, the accused expressed remorse and promised not to repeat the offence. He added that he was hired to splash the paint as he was desperate to pay off his debts. He requested a lower fine as he had two young children to support.
The court ordered the accused to serve a 12-month jail term if he failed to pay the fine. However, the accused managed to pay the fine.