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A 49-year-old father of three was reduced to tears in the Kajang Sessions Court on Tuesday after failing to pay a hefty fine for animal cruelty
Toh Teck Hooi, currently unemployed, was sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to a viral incident in which he was filmed repeatedly throwing a kitten against a wall at a local laundromat, according to Sinar Harian.
The incident took place in the early hours of 2 April, between 3.30am and 4am, at a facility in Taman Kajang Prima. Toh reportedly recorded the abuse himself, uploading a 59-second video to his social media account.
The footage showed him violently tossing a kitten against a wall and a mattress, an act that sparked immediate public outrage and led to his arrest after a four-day remand
Following the viral video, Selangor Veterinary Services Department (DVS) officers inspected the site the following day. Their assessment found the kitten in a grim state of health.
The kitten is suspected of having a right hind leg injury, causing it to show extreme discomfort when touched. The kitten also appeared lethargic, weak, and notably inactive.
Judge Khainur Aleeza Ismail delivered the sentence under Sub-section 29(1)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015
While the Act allows for fines between RM20,000 and RM100,000 or a maximum of three years' imprisonment, Toh was ordered to pay RM60,000.
His inability to pay the fine triggered the consecutive six-month jail term. The prosecution was handled by DVS officer Mohd Sharif Sabran, while Toh, who was unrepresented, wept after the sentence was delivered.
