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A FATHER of five has been fined RM6,000 or sentenced to five months in prison by the Magistrate's Court in the city today after admitting to inciting and threatening a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officer following a viral incident involving a balloon vendor in late March.
Magistrate Farah Nabihah Muhamad Dan, in delivering the sentence, stressed that public interest must be prioritised in this case, noting that the defendant's statements acted as adding fuel to the fire.
"The court hopes this sentence will serve as a lesson to the accused," Bernama cited her saying. For the first offence, Mustafa Sulaiman, 57, was fined RM2,000 or given a two-month jail term, while for the second, he was fined RM4,000 or sentenced to three months' imprisonment.
Mustafa, a clothing seller, was charged with making a statement that caused public harm against Mohammad Shahli Zaini Mohd Zulkepli, 32, with the intent of inciting others to commit an offence against him.
He faced the charge under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison or a fine, or both.
Mustafa was also charged with sending a threatening message through WhatsApp with the intention of causing death or injury under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison or a fine, or both.
The offences took place at the DBKL Enforcement Tower, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, at 10:30 AM on April 7.
Earlier, Mustafa’s lawyer, Dzafir Firdaus Ahmad Zubairy, requested a minimum fine, arguing that his client was the sole breadwinner for his family, which includes his five children, wife, and mother-in-law.
"This is his first offence, and his statements were made in a WhatsApp group and did not incite others," the lawyer said.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Amritpreet Kaur Randhawa, however, argued for a commensurate sentence, highlighting that the WhatsApp screenshots displayed threats, incitement, and intimidation with malicious intent against DBKL officers, who are public servants enforcing the law.
“The accused maliciously sought to damage the reputation and image of the Mayor and incite harm to DBKL enforcement officers,” she added. - May 19, 2025