Delivery rider fined RM1,000 for assault

KUCHING: A 23-year-old delivery rider was fined RM1,000, in default one month’s imprisonment, by the Magistrates’ Court here yesterday (Oct 12) for assaulting a man over a rental dispute.

Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan imposed the sentence on Haziq Danial Badul after he pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to a 22-year-old complainant at Pangkalan Sapi here at about 12.30 am on Oct 7.

Haziq was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, upon conviction.

The case arose from a rental dispute after Haziq allegedly paid RM300 to the complainant for a room advertised on Facebook on Oct 1.

However, Haziq was subsequently unable to contact the complainant and believed he had been cheated, prompting him to lodge a police report on Oct 2.

Investigations found that Haziq later sought information about the complainant’s whereabouts before going to look for him.

At about 12.30 am on Oct 7, the complainant was allegedly approached by Haziq at his rented room and taken to Pangkalan Sapi in a silver Perodua Viva.

During the journey and at Pangkalan Sapi, the complainant was threatened and assaulted over the disputed money.

Haziq allegedly demanded that the complainant return RM500, but the latter managed to make only a RM25 payment through a QR transaction.

The complainant subsequently escaped when the vehicle stopped at a petrol station.

Police investigations identified Haziq as the accused, leading to the charge against him for voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323 of the Penal Code.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Aqila Morsalin prosecuted the case. Haziq was unrepresented.