KOTA KINABALU: A Native Court in Papar has imposed a "sogit" (penalty) of three whole buffaloes and RM3,000 on a high-ranking civil servant for interfering with a married woman.
The civil servant, a Datuk, must pay the plaintiff, the woman's husband, the fine by Nov 23.
According to the Borneo Post, Papar Native Court district chief OKK Alexander Malianus, serving as the chief judge said the court found the defendant guilty of violating Kadazandusun customs when he interfered with a married woman.
The offence, which took place between January and June this year, was framed under Part II Section 8(1) of the Papar District Kadazandusun Race Customary Tradition.
Alexander said the woman's husband submitted two pages of complaints along with 10 photographs, WhatsApp screenshots and a hotel booking receipt as proof of the offence.
The defendant submitted a two-page document during mediation as part of his defence.
Alexander said parties dissatisfied with yesterday's decision could appeal to the District Native Court within 60 days.
The report also said the Datuk did not attend the hearing for the case on Oct 4 and was also absent from the court yesterday. He did not provide any explanation for his absence.
Failure to attend native court hearings is an offence under Section 25 of the Native Court Enactment.
A person can be fined RM200 or jailed for two years or both upon conviction.