BUTTERWORTH: A Rohingya man was fined RM3,500 by the Magistrate’s Court here today after pleading guilty to using another person’s identity card to register and use a Touch ‘n Go card.
Magistrate Aini Adilah Muhammad Faizal also ordered Ajimul Khan Syafiullah, 41, to serve five months’ jail if he failed to pay the fine.
According to the charge, he used an identity card belonging to S. Ganesan to register and use a Touch ‘n Go card at Jalan Bertam 2, Kepala Batas, at about 4 pm on Nov 3.
The charge was framed under Regulation 25(1)(e) of the National Registration Regulations 1990, which carries a maximum jail term of three years, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both, upon conviction.
Earlier, defence counsel Ahmad Faris Khairudin appealed for a minimum fine, saying his client’s guilty plea had saved the court time and costs.
He said the accused had apologised for the offence and promised not to repeat it, adding that he had engaged an agent to register the card.
Ahmad Faris also said no loans had been taken out in the identity card holder’s name and that the Touch ‘n Go card was a debit card.
“The accused has lived in Malaysia for 15 years, holds a UNHCR card and has a wife and four children aged between two and 16.
“He is the family’s sole breadwinner, earning about RM1,200 a month from various odd jobs, including as a store assistant and goods handler,” he said.
