By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Jul 17: A 21-year-old man was fined RM2,000 by the Magistrate’s Court here today after pleading guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to his girlfriend during an altercation at a rented house here earlier this month.
Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali handed down the sentence after Mohamad Haiqal Rashdan Abdullah admitted to an offence under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction. Failure to pay the fine will result in a five-month jail term.
The charge stated that the incident occurred at about 8pm on July 3 at a rental unit in Metro City New Township. The 18-year-old victim reported the matter to police after a dispute with the accused escalated into a physical confrontation.
During the struggle, the accused allegedly attempted to force her into a bedroom. The victim suffered injuries to her right arm and right knee, which were later verified through a medical examination.
Police investigations found the altercation stemmed from a personal disagreement between the couple. A female friend of the victim, who witnessed the incident, told investigators she saw the pair arguing shortly before the physical struggle began.
The case attracted widespread attention after a video purportedly showing the assault circulated on Facebook on July 4.
It is understood that the dispute allegedly started when the accused asked the victim for money to buy a motorcycle. However, during the investigation, the accused claimed the injuries occurred while he was trying to stop his girlfriend from going to a nightclub.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan prosecuted the case, while the accused appeared in court without legal representation. — DayakDaily
