College student fined RM1,800 for obstructing police

PETALING JAYA: A male private college student was fined RM1,800 in default two months’ jail by a Magistrate’s Court, here, yesterday after he pleaded guilty to obstructing police offcers from performing their duties.

Magistrate Salamiah Salleh sentenced Lim Yik Meng, 20, for committing the offence at Jalan 8/5, Section 8, here, at 10.30pm on Jan 14, under Section 186 of the Penal Code, which provides up to two years’ jail, or a fine of up to RM10,000, or both, upon conviction.

Earlier, the accused, represented by lawyer Mohd Hezri Shahril, asked the court to impose a light fine, on the grounds that he was young and promised not to repeat the mistake.

DPP Mary Phoon Keat Mee urged the court to mete out an appropriate sentence to serve the accused a lesson.

“The reason being young is not a factor for the accused to receive a lighter sentence, as obstructing a public officer is a serious offence, taking into account a scuffle also took place in the incident,” she said.

According to the facts of the case, during a patrol, the police saw a man (accused) in a car acting in a suspicious manner, and when they approached the car, the accused started the car engine and drove off, hitting a car which stopped at the road shoulder.

The accused, who then stopped his car, remained uncooperative, and a slight scuffle and argument took place between the accused and the policemen before he was taken to the police station. — Bernama