Two men were fined RM300 and RM350 respectively by the magistrates’ court here today for causing annoyance to the public during a Songkran festival event at a shopping mall.
Air-conditioning maintenance workers Ch’ng Jin Wei, 27, and Ng Boo Sheng, 28, pleaded guilty during separate proceedings before magistrates Shahril Anuar Ahmad Mustapha and Farah Azura Saad.
Ch’ng will be jailed 14 days if he fails to pay his RM300 fine, while Ng faces 10 days’ imprisonment if he does not pay his RM350 fine.
The two were charged with causing a public nuisance during the festival at around 11pm on April 20. The charge, framed under Section 268 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum fine of RM400 upon conviction.
During mitigation, Ng’s counsel Suraj Singh appealed for a lenient sentence, citing his client’s cooperation, early guilty plea, and the fact that this was his first offence. He also said Ng had been remanded for two days and sustained injuries during the incident.
Ch’ng’s lawyer Raj Preet Kaur also called for leniency, saying her client was remorseful and had apologised to all parties involved.
Deputy public prosecutors Ainul Athirah Jamalullail and Lim Leong Hui, however, requested a fair sentence to serve as a reminder for responsible conduct during public events.
