Three men fined for public fight triggered by dispute over cat odour

KUCHING (Dec 2): Three men were each fined RM600, in default one month’s imprisonment, by the Magistrates’ Court here today after being found guilty of fighting in public following a dispute over the smell of a pet cat, which was allegedly causing a nuisance.

Muhammed Firdaus Narani, 24, Ong Teck Eng, 56, and a 19-year-old youth all pleaded guilty to the charges read before Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan.

According to the charges, the men were accused of committing affray by causing a disturbance and fighting in a manner that disrupted public peace.

The offence was said to have taken place at about 7pm on Nov 28 at Kampung Bintawa here.

According to the facts of the case, Muhammed Firdaus had lodged a police report claiming he was assaulted by two neighbours with iron rods, resulting in injuries to his head, lips, and wrist.

At the same time, Ong also lodged a police report regarding the fight between them.

Police subsequently investigated, arrested all three men, and seized two iron rods as case exhibits.

Investigations confirmed that the trio had committed affray in a public place, and they were charged and sentenced under Section 160 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

The section provides for imprisonment of up to six months, or a fine of up to RM1,000, or both, upon conviction.

It was understood that the incident stemmed from dissatisfaction expressed by two of the men, who claimed that the smell of Muhammed Firdaus’s pet cat had disturbed them.

The prosecution was conducted by Prosecuting Officer Insp Nur Shafiqa Nyaie Ilin, while none of the accused were represented by counsel.