A 33-year-old Chinese Malaysian salesman found himself on the wrong side of the law after working as a loan shark runner and committing acts of vandalism to recover debts.
The man, who sells SIM cards for a living, admitted in court that he had splashed red paint on vehicles and residential properties in two separate incidents in Johor Bahru.
He pleaded for leniency, saying he earns only RM2,500 a month and is ill
In the first case, which took place at around 4:15 AM on 26 March in Setia Eco Gardens, Iskandar Puteri, he threw red paint onto two Honda HR-V vehicles parked outside a house. The paint damaged the vehiclesā windows and front hoods, resulting in losses estimated at RM2,200 for the 35-year-old owner.
In the second incident, earlier on 22 March at around 2:30 AM, he targeted a residence in Kampung Muafakat, splashing red paint across the front area of a 36-year-old womanās home.
Both acts were deliberate and intended to intimidate, a common tactic used in illegal debt collection, according to China Press.
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Appearing without legal representation, the man pleaded guilty to both charges. The prosecution urged the court to impose a sentence that would serve as a deterrent, citing the seriousness of such offences.
The magistrate agreed that although both incidents involved similar actions, they constituted separate offences as they targeted different victims, one involving vehicles and the other a residence.
He was fined RM3,500 for the first offence and RM2,000 for the second, bringing the total to RM5,500.
The man appealed for a lighter fine, reiterating that he earns only RM2,500 a month and suffers from high blood pressure. However, the court upheld the penalties.
Failure to pay the fines would result in 12 monthsā jail for the first offence and four months for the second.
