A former factory worker in Penang was fined RM500 after pleading guilty to choking a colleague over an alleged delay in work performance.
PETALING JAYA: A woman in Penang was recently fined RM500, in default of 14 days’ imprisonment, by the Balik Pulau Magistrate’s Court after choking a colleague due to a work dispute.
The accused, Siti Fadzhlina Bazheer Ahamed, pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to her colleague, Anis Fari Syuhaili Johari, when the charge was read to her before magistrate Chia Huey Ting.
The former factory worker strangled her 30-year-old colleague at their workplace, Abbott Medical Device Sdn Bhd, on July 26 over what was said to be the colleague’s slow work performance, according to the New Straits Times.
According to the case facts, the incident occurred at about 12.30pm when the 42-year-old accused confronted her colleague after noticing her using a mobile phone at work, which allegedly caused a delay in the delivery of goods.
The accused then placed her hands around Anis Fari’s neck and choked her. Anis Fari subsequently lodged a police report, following which Siti Fadzhlina was arrested.
The 42-year-old was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which provides for a fine of up to RM2,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both upon conviction.
Before sentencing Siti Fadzhlina, Chia questioned whether she understood the severity of her actions, pointing out that strangling her colleague could have resulted in her death.
“You strangled her because she was slow at work. Do you know she could have died? You could have killed her? This could have been murder?
“If indeed she was slow, you should have informed her supervisor about the delay instead of confronting her,” Chia was quoted as saying.
In response, Siti Fadzhlina expressed regret and apologised in court.
“I was dismissed from work following the incident,” she said.
Meanwhile, Siti Fadzhlina’s lawyer, Yiew De Xian, appealed to the court for a minimal fine, saying his client was currently supporting her mother.
The court fined Siti Fadzhlina RM500, in default of 14 days’ imprisonment.
The prosecution was handled by Muhammad Sofi Jaafar.
