KUCHING: An animal rights group expressed disappointment that a man charged with flinging cats from a 15th story apartment in Petaling Jaya was not prosecuted under a stricter penalty.
According to the Lawyers for Animal Rights group, the suspect ought to have faced charges in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2015 rather than the Penal Code.
According to a report by FMT, the group’s founder Rajesh Nagarajan said the Penal Code does not carry a minimum fine.
“So this allows very small fines against animal abusers,” he was quoted saying to FMT.
“However, the Animal Welfare Act provides for a minimum fine of RM20,000.”
He claimed that a higher fine along with the three-year maximum sentence set forth in both laws will effectively prevent animal abusers.
The judiciary should view animal cruelty as a horrible crime deserving of the worst punishments, he added, noting that a heavier fine was necessary “since animal abuse cases are prevalent in Malaysia.”
On Friday (Oct 21), a property manager claimed trial to a charge of flinging cats from the 15th floor of an apartment building last Monday.
The accused was detained on accusations of animal cruelty and treason after allegedly tossing a cat from the 15th floor that was thought to belong to his neighbour.
Later, the cops discovered three cat carcasses alongside the dumped animal.
