PETALING JAYA: A man who attacked a Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) enforcement officer with pepper spray last week was sobbing in the dock today after he was sentenced to five months’ jail and fined RM3,000 in default of three months’ imprisonment by the magistrate’s court here.
Magistrate Nurulhuda Zakariya meted out the sentence against unemployed Leng Wan Kwan, 50, after he pleaded guilty to using criminal force to obstruct a public servant from carrying out his duty.
Leng’s wife, who was present at court, was seen holding back tears as her husband was ushered into the lockup room at the end of the proceedings.
The father-of-three was charged with obstructing Norsafuan Nordin, 31, from carrying out his duty as an MPSJ officer by discharging pepper spray at him in front of a restaurant at Jalan Puteri 1/4, Bandar Puteri, Puchong at about 12.40pm on Nov 7.
According to the facts of the case, Leng and his wife berated and acted aggressively towards Norsafuan after he clamped Leng’s white Honda City for being illegally parked.
In the midst of the harangue, the accused discharged pepper spray in Norsafuan’s face, which temporarily blinded him and left him with breathing difficulties.
Norsafuan later lodged a police report on the incident.
Leng was charged under Section 353 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum two years’ imprisonment, or a fine, or both upon conviction.
The defendant, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a lenient sentence, saying that he is his family’s sole breadwinner and has been jobless for the past four months.
“I underwent an eye operation several months ago and have not been able to work since,” he said.
However, deputy public prosecutor Natasya Chin Le Jy pressed for a deterrent sentence, saying that the public should respect civil servants who are carrying out their duties.
The court also ordered Leng’s prison term to run from the date of his sentencing.