Jamal fined RM400 for beer bottles smashing antics

SHAH ALAM: The Magistrate’s Court here yesterday fined Sungai Besar Umno Division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos the maximum RM400 for smashing bottles of beer using a sledgehammer in front of the Selangor State Secretariat building here last year.

Magistrate Raja Noor Adilla Raja Mahyaldin imposed the fine after Jamal, 48, changed his plea to guilty. Jamal paid the fine. On May 25, Jamal pleaded not guilty to causing public nuisance by smashing the bottles in front of the gate of the State Secretariat building on Oct 5, 2017.

The charge, under Section 290 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum fine of RM400, upon conviction.

Earlier, lawyer Datuk Mohd Imran Tamrin, representing Jamal, asked the court to impose minimum fine on the grounds that his client’s action was a gimmick to protest against attempts to hold a beer festival in Selangor.

Jamal also apologised for his action.

“I bought 10 cartons of liquor worth RM1,800 and together with about 30 NGO members comprising Indians and Chinese, we had a gimmick so that the state government will not approve the festival.

“We had prepared a truck to clean the area but we did not have the time to clean the place up as we were directed by the authorities to disperse,” he said.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Amira Haziqah Zulkifli, however, urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence to serve as a lesson to the accused. - Bernama