KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today upheld the RM600 fine imposed on a graphic designer for lodging a false police report.
Justice Aslam Zainuddin made the ruling against Aidil Amin Jamil, 27, after hearing submissions from the prosecution and defence in a review of the magistrates’ court’s decision.
“After hearing submissions from both parties, the court upholds the sentence imposed by the magistrate but issues a stern warning not to repeat the offence as filing a false report is a serious offence and a waste of police resources,” he said.
Aidil lodged the report at the Dang Wangi police headquarters on May 2, claiming he was robbed in Bukit Bintang and had lost a wallet containing his identification card (IC) and bank cards.
However, when questioned by the investigating officer, he admitted to fabricating the report to avoid paying a penalty to the national registration department (JPN) when applying for a replacement IC.
He was subsequently charged under Section 182 of the Penal Code with providing false information to a public servant, an offence punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Faridah Nurdinie Bahrum submitted that the RM600 fine imposed by the lower court was inadequate. She urged the court to impose a heavier punishment, arguing that the offence was serious and a waste of resources.
“If the report had been further investigated and an arrest made, it could have affected an innocent person,” she said.
Counsel KA Ramu, representing Aidil, told the court that his client lost his wallet while attending a private function in the city centre and was advised by friends to lodge a false report to avoid paying a penalty to JPN.
“When we are young, we can sometimes be naive and follow our friends’ advice,” he said.
Ramu urged the court not to impose a custodial sentence and to instead enhance the fine to RM1,500, saying Aidil supports his disabled father on a monthly salary of about RM2,000.
Ramu also submitted that Aidil had not wasted judicial time as he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Lawyer Suthes Perumal appeared as co-counsel for Aidil.
