Man fined RM4,300 for punching, threatening teenager during basketball match

KUCHING (Jan 19): A 44-year-old man was fined a total of RM4,300 in default 10 months’ imprisonment for making a death threat against a teenage boy after punching him in the face during a basketball match.

Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali meted out the sentence on Thain Sin Kwei after he pleaded guilty to one charge under Section 323 of the Penal Code and another charge under Section 506 of the same Code.

Thain was fined RM1,300 in default three months’ jail under Section 323 for voluntarily causing hurt to the 16-year-old victim.

In the same proceedings, he was later fined RM3,000 in default seven months’ imprisonment for criminally intimidating him.

Section 323 provides for imprisonment for a term of up to one year, or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction.

Section 506 provides for imprisonment for a term of up to two years, or a fine, or both, if convicted. If the threat intended to cause death or grievous hurt, the offender is liable to be jailed for a term of up to seven years, a fine, or both.

Both of the offences were committed at a basketball court of a secondary school here at about 5pm on Jan 3.

According to the facts of the case, the victim was engaged in a basketball match when an opponent played in a manner of holding and grappling him, forcing him to play more aggressively.

Following that, Thain, who is the father of the victim’s basketball opponent, acted aggressively by punching the victim on the head and body.

He then made a death threat saying: “Do you want to die?”

The victim sustained a bruise on his left jaw as a result of the assault.

The incident was witnessed by several players and was captured on the premises’ closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Afiq Safly Nor Kazly appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was not represented.