Man jailed 10 months for repeatedly threatening to harm mother, damage property over money

File photo for illustration purposes only. Photo: Pixabay

By Dorcas Ting

KUCHING, Mar 25: A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 months in jail by the Magistrate’s Court here after threatening his mother when she refused to give him RM1,000.

The accused, identified as Nelson from Matang, pleaded guilty to a charge read before Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan.

He was charged under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation, which carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.

According to the case facts, the incident occurred at about 10.30am on March 20 at a flat in Malihah, involving his 55-year-old mother, a shop assistant.

The victim received a phone call from the accused demanding RM1,000 to be transferred into his bank account. When she refused, he threatened to assault her and damage property at her home.

Distressed and fearing for her safety after enduring repeated demands, the victim lodged a police report.

Investigations revealed that the accused had been persistently asking his mother for money on a daily basis for reasons unknown to her. When his demands were not met, he would resort to threats, including damaging property belonging to other family members, and harassing her at both her workplace and residence.

The threatening phone conversation on the day of the incident was also overheard by the victim’s younger brother, who later urged her to report the matter to the police.

The accused was arrested the following day, at around 4.30pm on March 21, at a local eatery.

During mitigation, he admitted that the money was intended to settle debts owed to unlicensed moneylenders.

The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Fauzulufti Suriani, while the accused was not represented by legal counsel. – DayakDaily