Former High Court judge’s driver jailed three after pleading guilty to criminal intimidation

A former driver of a Kuala Lumpur High Court judge has been sentenced to three months in jail for criminally intimidating the judge in May last year. Mohd Fareez Mohd Zin, 39, pleaded guilty during a recent court hearing. The charge alleges that he intimidated High Court Judge Gan Techiong, 64, with the intent to cause fear and alarm at the Kuala Lumpur High Court (Civil) complex on May 8 at 1:30 pm.

The offense, under Section 506 of the Penal Code, is punishable by up to two years in prison, a fine, or both. Mohd Fareez sent threatening voice recordings via WhatsApp and made a phone call to the judge's secretary, allegedly making defamatory statements and threats. The deputy public prosecutor urged the court to impose a sentence proportionate to the severity of the offense, emphasizing that while no physical injury was caused, the consequences could jeopardize the judge's reputation and safety.

The accused's lawyer appealed for a lighter sentence, citing his client's responsibility for three children and an unemployed wife.