KOTA KINABALU: Five individuals caught in a viral video showing a fight involving a group of transgender women in Sabah were each fined RM2,000 or sentenced to four months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to rioting.
The accused – Aldimin Kasim, 25; Nikazwan Sharuddin, 25; Azmil Ali, 19; Steven Chin Ying Lok, 25; and Junidi Joi Abdullah, 26 – changed their pleas to guilty before magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus today.
In delivering the sentence, Dzul advised the accused to reflect on their actions and avoid future misconduct.
“There’s no need to make a fuss over small matters. Reflect on what has happened and ensure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
All five were convicted of participating in an unlawful assembly with the common intent to injure two individuals – a transgender woman and a man, aged 21 and 35, respectively – using force or violence at 12.21pm on Feb 25 along Jalan Api-Api.
They were charged under Section 147 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
According to the case facts, one of the victims lodged a police report on Feb 26, claiming he was assaulted by a group of transgender individuals led by Aldimin.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the altercation stemmed from a misunderstanding between the complainant and Aldimin during a night out at an entertainment venue in Penampang earlier that day. They had agreed to meet at Api-Api Centre later that afternoon to resolve the matter.
However, Aldimin arrived at the meeting accompanied by Nikazwan, Azmil, Steven, and Junidi. The situation quickly escalated when Aldimin attacked the complainant, pulling his hair and punching him in the head, causing him to fall to the ground. The victim sustained bruises and minor injuries to his hands, elbows, knees, and ankles.
A second victim – the complainant’s friend – who attempted to break up the fight, was also assaulted, allegedly by Nikazwan and the other accomplices. He suffered a nosebleed and pain in the chest area.
The incident was witnessed by many bystanders, and video footage of the altercation later circulated widely on social media, drawing public attention.
All five accused were arrested at around 11.30pm on Feb 26.
During mitigation, Aldimin, Azmil, Steven and Nikazwan – who were represented by counsel Lim Ming Zoong @ Lawrence – and Junidi, who was unrepresented, requested leniency, asking for a fine in light of this being their first offence. All expressed remorse for their actions.
Lim also told the court that Aldimin came from a broken family and had been abandoned since the age of three, forcing him to live with his aunt and share the financial burden.
The prosecution was led by Inspector Mohamad Hamidi Mohamad Hamzah.
It was learnt that all five have paid their fines.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
