KOTA KINABALU: A pensioner was fined RM1,800 in default two months' jail by the magistrate's court here for smoking in a restaurant.
Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie handed down the sentence to Mansor Abdullah, 62, after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Mansor admitted to smoking at Restoran Rasika Maju in Plaza Tanjung Aru on Jan 10, last year at 4.15pm which is an offence under Regulation 11(1) (d) of the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations 2004.
The punishment under Regulation 11(3) of the same Regulations provides a fine of up to RM10,000 or imprisonment of up to two years upon conviction.
During mitigation, the unrepresented accused asked for leniency, saying among others that he was a first-time offender, had no fixed income, and had health problems.
Health Ministry prosecuting officer, Hiruan Md Ideris urged for an appropriate sentence as a lesson to the accused and the public at large.
Hiruan said restaurants or any food premises are places where smoking is prohibited, and the accused still committed the offence despite there being no smoking signage displayed at the restaurant.
The accused paid his fine.