BUKIT MERTAJAM: A couple who recently went viral for riding dangerously on the Penang Bridge, were fined RM2,500 each in default of six months jail by the magistrate's court here today.
Magistrate Nurul Rasyidah Mohd Akit handed down the sentence after hawker Muhammad Hafiz Ong Abdullah, 50 and wife Ong Ser Ying, 37, pleaded guilty to the joint charge.
"The court finds you guilty for the offence."As such, you are sentenced to RM2,500 each in default of six months jail," she said in court.
Hafiz and Ser Ying admitted to committing criminal intimidation against two men — Mohd Faizul Mat Zain and Mohd Shadid Sulaiman — by putting them in fear at Km2.8 of the Penang Bridge about 5pm on Feb 5.The charge, under Section 506 of the Penal Code, carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine, or both, on conviction.
Earlier, both Hafiz and Ser Ying nodded in affirmation when asked if they understood the charge against them.Ser Ying kept saying "sorry" throughout the proceeding.
In mitigation, Hafiz and Ser Ying told the court that they opted to pay the fine."I am working as a noodle seller, earning about RM1,500 a month... I appeal to the court for a low fine," Hafiz said.
Ser Ying concurred with Hafiz.Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Shakila Dahari urged for an appropriate sentence, saying their actions were dangerous.
According to the facts of the case, police came across a viral video at about 12.30am on Tuesday, showing a couple riding dangerously on the Penang Bridge.
They were seen throwing sand, whipping a black rope and kicking at motorcycles trying to overtake them.
About 12.30pm the same day, police detained the couple in Prangin Mall on the island.It was reported that police detained the couple on Monday.
This followed a posting by a Facebook user that the motorcyclist was riding dangerously.
The Facebook user said: "I got sand on my face. Luckily, I am patient. Otherwise, I would have kicked the motorcycle."
