KUALA LUMPUR – A deliveryman was fined RM2,000 today for assaulting journalist Haresh Deol in November 2025.
The magistrate’s court handed down the sentence to R. Krishnan, 38, after he pleaded guilty to the charge, local media reported.
Magistrate Aina Azahra Arifin also warned Krishnan that he would serve three months in jail if he failed to pay the fine.
Krishnan had been released on RM2,000 bail with one surety following his guilty plea in the same court earlier.
At today's sentencing, he was accompanied by family members, while Haresh, 44, was seated a few rows behind, supported by several journalists and representatives from various organisations, including the Centre for Independent Journalism and the National Press Club (NPC).
The charge, under Section 323 of the Penal Code read with Section 34, was read again to Krishnan. He maintained his guilty plea for deliberately and voluntarily causing harm to Haresh, whose full name is Haresh Singh Chain Singh.
The attack occurred on November 25, 2025, between 3.10pm and 3.32pm outside the Tanjung Balai Group building along Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year’s imprisonment or a fine of up to RM2,000 or both.
In mitigation, Krishnan's defence lawyer, Mohamad Salihen Mastor, urged for a minimal fine, emphasising that his client was a father of five with no steady income.
He also pointed out that Krishnan had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and that the crime was not of a serious nature.
“While public interest is paramount, I ask the court to exercise discretion and impose a proportionate sentence,” he said, as quoted by NST Online.
However, deputy public prosecutor Hench Goh argued for a harsher penalty. He highlighted that CCTV footage showed Krishnan and another individual had deliberately gone to the scene with the intention of harming Haresh.
“The assault occurred in broad daylight, causing significant injuries to the complainant, including soft tissue damage and swelling from repeated blows. Such acts undermine public safety and instil fear,” Goh was quoted as saying, calling for a deterrent sentence.
Haresh, an award-winning journalist and deputy president of the National Press Club Malaysia, has extensively reported on sports integrity, including the Football Association of Malaysia’s doctored documents scandal and the FIFA fines imposed on seven heritage footballers.
On the day of the assault, Haresh had just finished a meeting and was heading to his car when two men approached him. As he attempted to flee, he was knocked down by a third assailant, who, along with the others, kicked and punched him while one of them recorded the attack on a mobile phone. The attackers fled without taking any belongings.
Haresh reported the assault to the Brickfields District Police Headquarters and sustained facial bruises and injuries to both elbows. Krishnan was arrested the following day, November 26, and remanded for three days.
The attack sparked widespread condemnation across Malaysia. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil voiced their outrage, while Malaysians from all sectors, including national leaders and media professionals, expressed solidarity with Haresh. Media bodies such as the NPC, the Malaysian Media Council, and Gerakan Media Merdeka also condemned the assault, warning of growing threats to press freedom.
Police have yet to provide updates on the other two suspects still at large. - January 22, 2025
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