A 49-year-old woman was fined RM3,500, in default 10 months’ imprisonment, by the Magistrates’ Court for attempting to slash her nephew with a machete.
Zaleha Mat pleaded guilty before Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan to a charge framed under Section 324 of the Penal Code read together with Section 511. The provision carries up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine, caning, or any combination of the punishments. Section 511 allows for a sentence of up to one and a half times the longest term prescribed.
The incident occurred around 11.30am on Tuesday outside a house in Kampung Tabuan Hilir.
According to case facts, the victim was outside with a friend when Zaleha approached and attacked him with a machete, causing an injury to his left little finger. She was reportedly angry at him for mocking her.
The victim later lodged a police report, leading to Zaleha’s arrest the same day.
Although there were eyewitnesses, they did not cooperate with the investigation and refused to provide statements. A mobile phone recording existed but did not clearly show the assault taking place.
Photographs of the injury were submitted, but the medical report only described a “laceration wound over the palmar surface of the left little finger post-alleged assault”, without confirming the use of a potentially deadly weapon.
Despite the lack of complete evidence, the prosecution successfully established that Zaleha intentionally attempted to cause harm using a machete — which is capable of causing death if used as a weapon.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Aidil Akmal Sharidan prosecuted the case. Zaleha was unrepresented.
