SIBU: A 44-year-old man was fined RM1,200, in default two months’ imprisonment, by the Magistrates’ Court for committing mischief.
Magistrate Mohd Syukri Mokhtar on Tuesday (May 17) handed down the sentence after Stephen Japok from Teku-Pasai Road, pleaded guilty to the charge.
According to the charge sheet, the accused damaged property belonging to Catherine Chard, 49, which caused her losses estimated at RM200.
The incident happenned at a longhouse in Teku-Pasai Road at about 7.40pm on May 14.
Framed under Section 427 of the Penal Code, the offence provides for an imprisonment term of between one year and five years or fine or both upon conviction.
Prosecuting officer Insp Badrul Iskandar told the court that while the complainant was in her house, she heard something broken on the day of the incident.
She went out to check and saw a man, believed to be drunk.
The man, later identified as the accused, went berserk and damaged her wooden wall, table, chair, dustbin and radio.
A fight then erupted between the complainant and the accused at the common area of their longhouse.
At about 11.15pm, police arrested the accused at an unnumbered house at the longhouse.
Police also found and seized a piece of wood measuring 26 inches.
Investigation revealed that the accused went berserk because he was dissatisfied with the complainant, who switched on the radio loudly at the front yard of the longhouse.
The accused had earlier advised the complainant to lower the volume but was ignored by the complainant.
The accused then took a stick and destroyed the radio and a chair in the complainant’s home.
Insp Badrul told the court that the complainant then came out from her house and scolded the accused. A struggle ensued, witnessed by other occupants of the longhouse.
Meanwhile, both the accused and the complainant were charged with committing affray and were each fined RM1,000, in default one month’s jail.
Both pleaded guilty and paid the fines.
