A 45-year-old was fined RM 5,500 (SGD 1,552) after pleading guilty to using a tongkat (crutch) to smash a Malaysian driver’s car windscreen.
According to Zaobao, the incident took place on the first day of the Chinese New Year (10 February) at around 1.39pm at Km139.6 of the North-South Expressway heading north. Reportedly, an altercation arose when a Malaysian driver attempted to stop the Singaporean driver’s car, leading to both drivers getting into a scuffle.
The driver of a Singapore-registered later took out a tongkat from his car and smashed it against the other driver’s car windscreen before leaving the scene.
China Press, a Malaysian Chinese-language newspaper, reported that the Singaporean man was arrested in Genting Highlands on Monday (12 February). The man was detained for three days to assist with investigations and charged on 14 February for committing mischief by causing damage. He pleaded guilty to the charges.
The man was offered a fine of RM 5,500 (approximately S$1,552) or he could choose to be jailed for up to 12 months in prison.
Based on the court’s hearing, the Singaporean man was driving a red Singapore-registered car when he got into a fight with a Malaysian driver. The Singaporean man smashed the Malaysian car with a tongkat, causing the other driver to lose RM2,502.35 (approximately S$706).
Under Section 427 of the Penal Code for committing mischief by causing damage, the Singaporean man could face an imprisonment term of up to five years and a fine, upon conviction.
The Singaporean man pleaded for leniency claiming that he works as a taxi driver in Singapore, earning a monthly salary of about $3,000 (approximately RM10,633) and has an unstable income. He also claimed that he had divorced his wife, had no children, and is currently living with his 71-year-old cancer-stricken mother.
The Singaporean man’s lawyer appealed for leniency, pointing out that the man had no criminal record in Malaysia and was fully cooperative with the police afterwards. He was also willing to take responsibility for his fault and compensated the other car owner for damaging his car.
The prosecution pointed out that the victim’s car owner suffered losses after the Singaporean man deliberately damaged his vehicle. The prosecution also added that the incident occurred in a dangerous location such as the North-South Expressway, and therefore, the man should be given a proper lesson to serve as a warning to others.
