By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Aug 6: A 25-year-old man who performed a stunt jump from the Darul Hana Bridge into the Sarawak River after being dared by a group of tourists was fined RM200 by the Magistrate’s Court.
The man pleaded guilty to committing a public nuisance, prompting Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan to impose the fine, with a two-day jail sentence in default of payment.
He was charged under Section 268 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 290, for causing inconvenience to members of the public by jumping from the bridge at about 10.30pm on July 23.
The court heard that police launched an investigation after a video of the incident surfaced on Facebook and gained widespread attention online. Investigators later identified the man as the individual shown in the footage.
During mitigation, the accused told the court that he had been chatting with friends on the bridge when a group of tourists from Peninsular Malaysia overheard their conversation.
He said he had jokingly asked his friends whether they believed he was brave enough to jump, before one of the tourists challenged him to prove his courage.
The accused said he asked what he would receive if he accepted the dare and was told he would be given money. However, he maintained that the offer did not influence his decision.
Instead, he said he carried out the jump because he felt challenged and wanted to prove he was a “true Sarawakian”.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazly prosecuted the case, while the accused appeared in court without legal representation. — DayakDaily
