Man in Kuching fined RM2,000 for damaging TM cables

KUCHING (Aug 27): The Magistrates’ Court here today fined a 40-year-old man to RM2,000 in default four months jail after he pleaded guilty to damaging fibre optic and copper cables belonging to Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM Berhad).

Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali imposed the sentenced on Hairman Busri after he pleaded guilty to a charge framed under Section 43(1)(a) of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same Code.

The Section carries a jail term for up to two years or a fine or both for committing mischief by cutting or damaging any electric telegraph cable, wire, line post, instrument or apparatus for signalling.

Hairman, together with another man who is still at large, committed the offence at Jalan Sherip Masahor here at 6.30pm on May 25, 2024.

According to the facts of the case, a  TM Berhad technician assistant on duty that day discovered the underground fibre optic and copper cables along the side of the road had been cut by two men.

He recorded a video of their actions on his smartphone and lodged a police report that led to Hairman’s arrest.

The estimated loss was about RM5,000.

Investigations later found Hairman and his accomplice had committed mischief by cutting the cables, with the entire incident witnessed by the TM Berhad technician assistant.

The identification parade conducted on Hairman was positive.

ASP Arman Ibrahim prosecuted the case, while Hairman was unrepresented by legal counsel.