Clean sock: Trader fined RM1,200 for punching stall owner over cleanliness rebuke

New Straits Times

3 days ago

BATU PAHAT: A trader was fined RM1,200 by the Yong Peng magistrate's court here today for punching a stall owner in the mouth until it bled after being told by the victim to stop littering on Saturday.
He was charged with voluntarily causing hurt to the 31-year-old man at his stall in Taman Putera Indah, Tongkang Pechah, at 5pm on Aug 9.
The charge carries a jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction.
However, magistrate Arun Noval Dass imposed the fine on S.M. Yusoff Othman, 56, after taking into account his guilty plea as well as submissions from both the prosecution and defence.
The court also ordered a two-month jail term if the fine was not paid. Yusoff settled the fine.
According to the facts, the victim had rebuked the accused for littering at his stall and told him to maintain cleanliness, which angered the latter.
A quarrel broke out before Yusoff punched the man in the mouth, an act witnessed by his brother-in-law, who later lodged a report.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Wahidah Mohd Sharip appeared for the prosecution, while Tan Song Yan from the National Legal Aid Foundation represented the accused.