Man jailed, fined RM3,500 over fake pistol

KOTA KINABALU: The Magistrate’s Court here yesterday jailed a man for one day and fined him RM3,500, in default, six months’ jail for possessing an imitation pistol claiming that he used it to kill mice at his home.

Sufdainal Helmi Ahmad Alawi, 45, pleaded guilty before magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie to having the fake firearm at Kampung Sembulan on July 17.

The unrepresented accused was convicted under Section 36 (1) of the Arms Act which provides for a jail term of up to one year or a maximum fine of RM5,000 or both, upon conviction.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Albert Basiri told the court that during the day of the incident, a policeman was patrolling at the said area and stopped the accused’s car.

The accused was inside it and acting in a suspicious manner prompting the police to conduct a check on the car.

The police found the black coloured pistol kept inside the right door compartment of the car.

In mitigation, the accused requested for a non-custodial sentence and explained that he bought the pistol from an online shop. He normally used the pistol to shoot lizards, but he used it to shoot mice at his home.

When asked by court why he brought the pistol out of his house, the accused claimed that on that day he was having a misunderstanding with his wife, so, he brought along the pistol and kept it inside his car as he was afraid if he left the pistol at home, his child would play with it by inserting it into the mouth.