Duo fined RM1,800 each for possessing imitation firearms

KOTA KINABALU: A woman and a man were fined RM1,800, in default, two months' jail by the Magistrate's Court here yesterday for a joint charge of possessing various types of imitation firearms.

Magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun imposed the fine on Voon Chui Yun, 32 and Chen Saihua, 38, after they admitted to their charge under Section 36 (1) of the Arms Act 1960 read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

The indictment provides for a jail term of up to one year or a fine or both, upon conviction.

The duo was arrested for committing the offence at a shop at a shopping complex in Penampang on October 27, 2020.

The facts of the case stated that all the seized items were tested to be functioning well however all the items were harmless.

In mitigation, counsel Batholomew Jingulam, who represented both the accused persons, prayed for a noncustodial sentence be imposed on his clients.

The counsel submitted that his clients sold the items just for the purpose of supplementing their severely affected income due to Covid-19 pandemic.