A 38-year-old father of five was fined RM2,000 by the magistrate’s court in Muar today after pleading guilty to assaulting a man who allegedly tried to steal a mattress from a house he was guarding six years ago.
H. Kartikesu admitted to the offence before Magistrate Suzana Mokhtar, who also ruled that he would face six months in jail if he failed to pay the fine. Kartikesu has since paid the amount.
According to the charge sheet, the incident occurred at 2.30pm on January 16, 2019, along Jalan Bakri. Kartikesu, who is self-employed, was accused of intentionally causing injuries to a 38-year-old man outside a home that was under renovation.
Police investigations revealed that the victim had attempted to steal a mattress placed outside the house. Angered by the act, Kartikesu reacted by assaulting the man, resulting in injuries later confirmed by medical personnel.
The charge was framed under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of one year’s imprisonment, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Yasmin Mohd Piah led the prosecution, while Kartikesu was represented by Sakinah Suhaimi from the National Legal Aid Foundation.
