KUALA LUMPUR: The third suspect in the case of a pregnant cat stray that was stuffed in a dryer at a launderette in Taman Gombak has been remanded for four days beginning today.
The remand order against the 41-year-old suspect at the Selayang Magistrate's Court was to facilitate investigation into the case under Section 428 of the Penal Code for mischief by killing or maiming any animal.
If convicted, the suspect can be jailed a maximum of three years or fine or both.
The suspect, clad in a red shirt at the court this morning was represented by lawyer Rajsurian Pillai.
It is understood that the suspect who is also a contract worker was nabbed by police last night in Seri Kembangan, after having escaped arrest for close to a month.
On Sept 21, two of his friends pleaded not guilty at the Selayang Sessions Court after they were charged with causing unnecessary suffering to the cat under Section 29 (1) (e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 and Section 29 (1) of the same Act read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
The two, A Mohanraj, 41, and S S Satthiya, 26, are being held at the Sungai Buloh prison as both failed to make bail.
On Sept 13, a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage of the cat being placed in the dryer went viral, leading to animal activists and Malaysians in general calling for the authorities to take action against the perpetrators.
The CCTV footage showed that the dryer was then turned on while the cat was still in it.
The cat was later found dead in the dryer by a customer.