Dog ‘rescuer’ charged with obstructing public servants
PETALING JAYA: A man seen in a viral video trying to rescue a stray dog from being snared by dog catchers recently was charged with obstructing public servants from carrying out their duties.
Koh Tat Meng, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before magistrate M. Barath yesterday.
Clad in a denim shirt, the 47year-old trader was calm when he entered the dock at 11am. “Tidak bersalah dan minta
dibicarakan (not guilty and claim trial),” he said firmly after the court interpreter asked for a plea.
Several people, believed to be animal activists, were also present and sat at the front row of the court’s public gallery. Some of them had brought placards with messages to support Koh.
However, a policeman, who noticed the placards, asked the activists to remove them.
“What do you think you are doing? This is a courtroom. Show some respect,” the policeman said.
According to the charge sheet, Koh had allegedly obstructed Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) officer Mohd Sadruddin Mohd Rosli, 30, from carrying out his duties near Vista Millennium Condominium, Puchong, at 11.22am on Oct 3.
The offence falls under Section 186 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum two years’ jail and RM10,000 fine, or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Zubaidah Mahat asked the court to impose RM5,000 bail.
However, counsel N. Rajesh pleaded for a minimum bail, stating that his client was the sole breadwinner.
“He has three children and also needs to take care of his ailing parents,” he said.
The court set RM2,000 bail in one surety and fixed Nov 26 for mention.
A four-minute video lip showing several MPSJ personnel trying to capture a dog, which was quivering under a car, went viral on social media recently.
A man was then seen trying to intervene and pestering officers not to capture the canine, as a woman recorded the entire incident.
On Oct 8, Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin expressed her regret over the incident.
Her highness, who is the Royal Patron of Stray Free Selangor campaign, said she was disappointed and saddened that such cruelty was taking place in the community despite numerous awareness campaigns on strays.
She was also informed that state Local Government, Public Transportation and New Village Development Committee chairman Ng Sze Han had apologised to Koh over the abusive conduct of MPSJ staff.
Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin said a proper procedure of catching strays should be followed strictly to ensure the wellbeing of animals and safety of enforcement officers.