KUCHING: The Kuching Sessions Court on today (May 21) rejected the guilty plea of an unemployed man accused of beheading a cat using a meat cleaver.
During the case mention, Jefrie Drahman, 33, pleaded guilty to two charges read before Judge Musli Abdul Hamid. However, Jefrie contested the facts of the case presented by deputy public prosecutor Norshafatihah Nor Azmi.
Consequently, Judge Musli rejected the defendant’s plea and set a new mention date for June 19 for the prosecution to submit related documents under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
The court also set trial dates for Oct 10 and 11, 2024, and ordered the defendant to remain in remand at Puncak Borneo Prison until the case is concluded.
According to the first charge, he is accused of beheading a cat with a meat cleaver without reasonable cause or authority. For this charge, he is accused under Section 30(2) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 and can be punished under Section 30(4) of the same Act.
If found guilty, he could be fined not less than RM20,000 and not more than RM100,000 or imprisoned for up to three years or both.
For the second charge, he is accused under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation by threatening to kill his 70-year-old mother.
Jefrie committed the offence at their residence in Jalan Tanjong Durian, Kampung Keranji, Bau, around 12.40pm on May 15.
It is understood that Jefrie beheaded his neighbour’s cat out of dissatisfaction with his mother who had urged him to find a job. He also showed the severed cat’s head to his mother while uttering threats to kill her.
Fearing for her safety, the mother reported the incident to the police for further action and investigation.
It is also understood that initial urine screening indicated the defendant was positive for drugs.
The case is being investigated by investigating officer Sgt Mohammad Asfia Ilias. The defendant was not represented by a lawyer.
