RM12,000 fine for striking neighbours, obstructing police

PETALING JAYA: A food trader was fined RM12,000 in default 12 months imprisonment by the Magistrate's Court here yesterday for striking three neighbours and obstructing police from carrying out their duty.

Magistrate Nurulhuda Zakariya handed the sentence to Norhayati Che Bakar, 48, who had initially claimed trial and then changed her plea to guilty.

On the first charge of voluntarily causing hurt to Masitah Hassan, 38, the woman was fined the maximum RM2,000 or two months' jail; she was meted out the same penalty for the second charge and third charge involving Tajik Hasikin Rosli, 39, and Abdullah Hassan, 35, respectively.

She committed the three offences on the 4th floor of an apartment at Jalan PJS8/14 here, at 8.30 am on Sept 21.

On the fourth charge of obstructing assistant commissioner Supari Mohammad and constable Masniza Muslimin from carrying out their duty at the same place and day at 5.15 pm, she was fined RM6,000 or six months imprisonment. Norhayati paid the fine. Earlier in mitigation, her counsel Yusri Yusof told the court that his client had saved time and cost for the court by pleading guilty.

"My client also is also remorseful for her actions. The seven days remand was adequate lesson for her and she has already moved to Kedah,” he submitted.

However, deputy public prosecutor Natasha Chin Le Jy urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence, submitting that the incident should not have happened.

According to the facts of the case, one of the three victims was hanging clothes to dry when Norhayati who was on the third floor started hurling insults before going up to the fourth floor and chasing the victim with a piece of wood.

The victim lodged a report and when police apprehended her, the woman refused to cooperate and attempted to escape. - Bernama