TAPAH - A factory supervisor has been sentenced to seven days in prison by the Tapah Magistrate's Court on Friday for threatening and injuring a female driver in a viral video that circulated on social media last Monday.
Magistrate Siti Hanum Mohamad Sah handed down the sentence to 29-year-old Mohammad Zaim Faiz Tarmizi after he pleaded guilty to both charges.
The court imposed a seven-day prison sentence for each charge but ordered that the sentences run concurrently from the date of conviction.
The charges stated that the accused, a father of one, had allegedly criminally intimidated Amiera Atiqah Shahrizan, 25, by threatening to 'break her face' at Lata Iskandar KM22, Jalan Tapah - Cameron Highlands at around 5:33pm on June 5.
The first charge was brought under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years or a fine, or both.
The second charge accused the man of intentionally causing injury to the same individual at the same time and location.
The accused was charged under Section 232 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of up to one year or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both.
In his defense, the accused, who was not represented by a lawyer, claimed that the incident occurred when the woman attempted to cut off his vehicle, posing a threat to the lives of his family members, especially his eight-months-pregnant wife and child.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Geetha Jora Singh requested the court to impose a suitable sentence to send a strong message that such acts are serious crimes and cause public outrage.
Before pronouncing the sentence, Siti Hanum advised the accused to think before acting and emphasised that every action has consequences not only for himself but also for his family and society.
The accused was arrested in Serdang, Selangor, on Tuesday following a police report filed by the 24-year-old victim.
Police investigations revealed that the incident occurred at 5:33pm on Monday while the victim drove from Cameron Highlands to Tapah with her 17-year-old brother.
The incident resulted from a misunderstanding on the road near the Lata Iskandar resort when the victim attempted to overtake a Proton Persona car but was unable to do so.
The one-minute viral video showed the accused, wearing a red shirt, getting out of his car, knocking on the victim's window, reprimanding her, and then hitting her head.