By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, May 29: A man who admitted to carrying out a series of red paint splashing incidents and leaving threatening debt-related notes at several homes around Kuching was sentenced to one year in jail and fined RM10,000 by the Magistrate’s Court today.
Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan handed the sentence to Awang Isamuddin Awang Seruji, 33, after he pleaded guilty to six criminal charges linked to vandalism and intimidation activities that took place earlier this month.
The court further ordered the accused to serve an additional 18 months in prison if he fails to pay the fine.
Investigations revealed that the accused had allegedly been hired through WhatsApp by an unidentified individual to carry out the acts for payment of RM250 per assignment, with the incidents believed to be connected to debt collection disputes.
Police later detained the accused after linking him to several reports involving vehicles splashed with red paint and threatening messages left at residential properties in different parts of Kuching.
Investigators also recovered video recordings from his mobile phone allegedly showing him committing the offences.
Among the charges faced by the accused were four counts of mischief under Sections 426 and 427 of the Penal Code for damaging vehicles at Kampung Jawa Semenggok, Kampung Semerah Padi, Bandar Baharu Samariang and Rumah Mesra Rakyat Phase 2 along Jalan Bako between May 4 and May 15.
The incidents involved five vehicles in total.
For the offences under Section 426, the court imposed fines ranging from RM2,000 to RM2,500, with default jail terms of three months. Another charge under Section 427 involving damage to two vehicles carried a RM3,000 fine or nine months’ imprisonment in default.
The accused was also sentenced to six months’ jail for each of two charges under Section 507B of the Penal Code for leaving threatening notes at two separate houses in Bandar Baharu Samariang and Kampung Jawa Semenggok.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazly prosecuted the case, while the accused was not represented by counsel. — DayakDaily
