Court Fines Woman RM3,100 For Calling A Cop 'Idiot' During An MCO Roadblock In PJ
She paid the fines in default of 31 days in jail.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 21 May 2020, 12:29 PM
A woman who called a police officer an 'idiot' during a roadblock in Petaling Jaya on 31 March was fined RM3,100 for two offences
Tong Poh Kim, a 44-year-old sales manager, was charged under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act and Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing the policeman from discharging his public functions, reported New Straits Times.
Under the Section 186 of the Penal Code, a charge can carry a sentence of up to two years' jail or RM10,000 in fine.
Magistrate Zhafran Rahim Hamzah meted out a RM3,000 fine, and on the first charge, a maximum RM100 fine.
Tong, who initially pleaded not guilty to the offences, changed her mind after she was called to the court for a case mention yesterday, 20 May.
She paid the fines in default of a day and a month in jail, respectively.
Prior to the sentencing, her defence lawyer, Datuk Suraj Singh, begged for leniency as he claimed that his client was under a lot of stress after being stuck in the roadblock for two hours
According to Suraj, Tong's mother had been in a coma since 27 February, following a stroke.
He contended that his client was emotionally unstable and mentally distressed at the time of the incident on Jalan Persiaran Surian.
"The accused is truly remorseful and apologised to all quarters, including the police. In this case, there was no fight or violence involved, except the use of the word 'idiot' by her," Suraj said.
Tong obstructing a policeman from discharging his public functions on Jalan Persiaran Surian, Petaling Jaya, on 31 March.
Image via Oh My MediaDeputy Public Prosecutor Siti Zubaidah Mahat, however, told Zhafran Rahim to mete out a just sentence as the accused had committed a serious offence when she failed to respect Corporal Izuan Hasim Nor Hamzah, reported The Star.
