A man was jailed for six months after defaulting on a RM60,000 fine for animal cruelty, following a viral video of him abusing a kitten at a laundromat.
KAJANG: A man whose viral video showed him abusing a kitten was sentenced to six months in jail by the Sessions Court here today after he failed to pay a RM60,000 fine for animal cruelty.
Judge Khainur Aleeza Ismail imposed the fine on unemployed Toh Teck Hooi, 49, after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
The court ordered Toh to serve the jail sentence immediately upon defaulting on the fine payment.
The father of three was accused of cruelly abusing a black male kitten by repeatedly throwing it against a wall and a mattress at a self-service laundromat in Taman Kajang Prima between 3 am and 4 am on April 2 this year.
He was charged under Section 29(1)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which provides for a fine of between RM20,000 and RM100,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both upon conviction.
The facts of the case revealed that the accused also recorded and uploaded a video of the incident, which showed him repeatedly throwing the kitten.
Acting on a public complaint, Animal Welfare officers from the Selangor Veterinary Services Department inspected the scene on April 3 and rescued the animal.
An initial examination found the kitten had sustained an injury to its right hind leg and appeared weak and unresponsive.
The accused was subsequently remanded for four days beginning Saturday to assist in investigations.
The prosecution was led by Selangor Veterinary Services Department prosecuting officer Mohd Sharif Sabran, while the accused was unrepresented.
