SIBU: A youth was today fined RM2,500 in default three months’ imprisonment by a Magistrates’ Court here for committing mischief by smashing a car’s windshield.
Magistrate Mohd Syukri Mokhtar convicted Jerome Beludi from Kanowit on his own plea of guilty to the charge after it was read and explained to him.
The accused who was unrepresented by legal counsel, failed to pay the fine.
He was charged with intent to cause wrongful loss to Cletus Unning Lucas aged 35 by damaging the latter’s property, to wit, the back passenger’s windshield of his car at car park in Jalan Lai Chee about 8.55pm on August 7.
As such the accused had committed mischief which is an offence under Section 425 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 426 of the same Code which provides for an imprisonment term of between one and five years or fine or both upon conviction.
In outlining the fact of case, prosecuting officer ASP Linggi Tawi told the Court that on August 7 at about 8.55pm, at the parking lot in Jalan Laichee, the complainant (car owner) was informed by his friend that the right side of his car’s back passenger seat window was smashed by the accused person.
The complainant then lodged a police report for further action.
Later at about 11.45pm, acting on information, a police team led by ASP Jarraw Madong arrested the accused at a house in Lorong Laichee and seized a machete from him.
Police investigation revealed that both the accused and the complainant had a grudge a few months ago prior to the incident.
Out of anger towards the complainant, the accused smashed his car’s back seat window with a machete at the material time.
ASP Jarraw further told the court that the act of the accused in breaking the car window of the complainant had also caused him to suffer wrongful loss for repair cost.
