Kota Kinabalu: Two Timorese who beat a dog to death and subsequently ate its meat were fined RM6,000 or three month’s jail each.
Pali Lolo, 43, and Tandi Yusuf, 46, pleaded guilty separately before Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus, to the charge against them on Thursday.
The duo hit the dog between 4pm and 6pm on Sept 29, 2019 in a house at Kg Dambai in Penampang.
The offence under Section 18(1)(a) of the Animal Welfare Enactment 2015 and read together with Section 43 of the Penal Code, carries a fine of up to RM100,000, or a jail term of up to three years, or both, on conviction.
During mitigation, the duo who was not represented, asked for leniency by saying that they did not know the law.
The duo informed the court that they just wanted to eat the dog’s meat.
Prosecuting Officer Dr Zul Bahar Abdul Rashid from the Veterinary Service Department requested for an appropriate sentence on the grounds that it was a serious offence.
Dr Zul also told the court that the duo had given cooperation during the investigation.
The court heard that on Oct 5, 2019, the complainant’ Dr Randolf Paza Tsen San Shum, received a video footage which had gone viral on media social WhatsApp and that the content of the video was about the cruelty against a dog.
The complainant later lodged a report at the Penampang police station the following day.
Investigation revealed that on Sept 29, 2019, the owner of the dog, Martine @ Martin Fredoline Dunong who had pleaded guilty to committing a similar offence had ordered two Timorese namely, Pali and Tandi to tie the neck of his pet dot and beat it with a wood until the dog died.
The following day, Martine together with Pali and Tandi then ate the dog’s meat.
Martin on Apr 16 this year, was fined RM10,000 or four months’ jail for committing cruelty against his pet dog.