Durian orchard caretaker fined RM7,500 over fake gun, criminal intimidation

On August 5, a 57-year-old durian orchard caretaker named Choong Ah Cheng was sentenced to RM7,500 by a magistrate's court in George Town. Choong pleaded guilty to two charges: possessing a fake firearm and criminal intimidation. The fake firearm, an air rifle with serial number 041521754, was found in his hut at his workplace, a durian orchard in Bukit Gambir, at 10 pm on the aforementioned date.

Under Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960, Choong faced up to one year in prison or a fine of up to RM5,000, or both upon conviction. Choong also admitted to criminally intimidating a 42-year-old man by threatening to cause serious injury at the same orchard about 5 pm on August 4, under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, a fine, or both upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Danial Amir Saad requested a suitable sentence, while Choong's counsel, Shariffah Farveen Syed Ibrahim, requested a minimum fine as her client had a wife and daughter to support and worked without a fixed income. Choong expressed regret for his actions and pledged not to repeat the offenses. The court fined Choong RM3,000 for the fake firearm possession charge, with an additional eight months in jail if unpaid, and RM4,500 for the criminal intimidation charge, with a further nine months in jail if unpaid.

The court heard that the threat was due to a misunderstanding between Choong and the victim over access to the orchard.