Man who hit and burned dog alive pleads guilty

JOHOR BAHRU - A man pleaded guilty at the Sessions Court, here, today to committing animal cruelty to a dog, last month.

Braden Yap Hong Seng, 19, as the person being summoned (OKS) made the plea after the charge was read to him in Mandarin before judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim.

According to the charge sheet, Braden had caused unnecessary pain and suffering to the brown female dog.

He committed the offence at a premises in Jalan Impian Emas 22, Taman Impian Emas, Skudai, here, at about 1.49am on March 27.

The charge framed under Section 29(1)(e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 and which can be punished under Section 29 (1) of the same act carries a fine of up to RM100,000 or a maximum imprisonment of three years or both, if convicted.

Based on the facts of the case, a footage from a closed-circuit television (CCTV) at the place of the incident showed the OKS beating up the dog and burning it.

Following a report from a public member, a veterinarian conducted physical examination on the dog at the Vetmedic Petlover clinic in Taman Impian Emas at about 12.30pm on March 28.

The result of th examination found that the dog was in fear and there were bruises and burns mark on its left thigh, wounds on the front leg and bleeding in the left eye.

Lawyer P. Rajakunaseelan who appeared for Braden asked the court for a postponement of the sentence as the latter's lawyer G. K. Sritharan was unable to be present in court today.

"The lawyer (Sritharan) the OKS appointed is currently in the Philippines and he will return to Malaysia next week," Rajakunaseelan said.

The court then set April 18 for sentencing.