AN ex-military personnel was fined RM20,000 by the Air Keroh Sessions Court today after pleading guilty to shooting a neighbour’s cat with an air rifle last year.

The accused, Aziz Tambi, 63, was earlier charged with animal cruelty for causing undue suffering to a cat belonging to Amran Majid, 45, by shooting it with an air rifle.

The accused is alleged to have committed the offence at a house in Lorong Mat Lajis, Bukit Rambai in Melaka Tengah at about 2.30pm on June 18, 2022.

He was charged under section 29(1)(e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772), which carries a minimum fine of RM20,000 and a maximum of RM100,000, or three years’ imprisonment, or both.

Deputy public prosecutor Aliff Asraf Anuar Sharuddin asked for the appropriate punishment to be imposed on the accused to teach the community not to act hastily.

Lawyer Ishak Mohd Kari, who represented the accused, however, appealed for a lighter sentence on the grounds that the accused had served the country and received a medal of appreciation and that the action was taken because he had been patient with his neighbours for a long time.

Judge Darmafikri Abu Adam then fined Aziz RM20,000 or six months in prison if he fails to pay the fine. – Bernama, June 22, 2023.