SANDAKAN: A man was fined RM3,000 by the Sessions Court here for his involvement in the demise of a cat.
The court found Sumardi Kuba, 49, guilty of confining a female domestic cat inside a tightly tied sack, resulting in the animal's tragic death.
The offense, as per Section 18(1)(f) of the Animal Welfare Enactment 2015, carries severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to three years or a fine not exceeding RM100,000 upon conviction.
Sumardi admitted to committing the offense before Judge Zaini Fishir @ Fisal.
The incident, on September 10, last year, took place outside a pet shop in Mile 5, Sandakan at 10.05om. A female complainant discovered the tightly tied sack upon arriving at her pet shop. Upon opening it, she tragically found a deceased cat inside.
After reviewing the shop's CCTV footage, the complainant identified Sumardi as the individual who had placed the sack outside the pet shop. The footage indicated that the cat was alive and moving around while confined.
Subsequent investigations by the Sandakan Veterinary Services Department (DVS) revealed internal injuries in the cat's chest, presumably caused by the feline's struggle to escape. Additionally, the examination indicated bluish discoloration on the mouth and tongue due to a lack of oxygen before the animal's death.
During his plea for leniency, Sumardi said his actions were not intentional and were driven by the aim of safeguarding the cat from potential harm.
"I plead guilty for my wrongdoing but I didn't do it on purpose and had no intention of killing the cat.
"I want to save the cat from being hit by a car and attacked by stray dogs because the cat is still small. Therefore, I put the cat in front of the pet shop door with the hope that this cat can be cared for by other people.
"Please give me a chance because I have an elderly mother a small child who is still in school. If I was put in jail, I could not take care of them," he said.
The prosecuting representative from the DVS, Francis Palikat, advocated for a stringent sentence to serve as a deterrent against future acts of cruelty towards animals.
Sumardi later opted to pay the RM3,000 fine imposed by the court.
