Mother, daughter fined RM500 each for obstructing stray dog operation

MUAR: A mother and daughter who obstructed Muar Municipal Council (MPM) enforcement officers during an operation to catch stray dogs last month were fined RM500 each by the magistrate's court here today.

Ainun Jongin, 52, an Indonesian national, and her daughter, Loo Sock Yan, 24, pleaded guilty after the charge was read out before magistrate Kartini Kasran.

The court also ordered them to serve 30 days in jail if they failed to pay the fines. Both paid the fines.

They were jointly charged with intentionally obstructing a 31-year-old MPM public health assistant from carrying out her duties during an operation to catch stray dogs.

The offence was committed in front of a house in Taman Bintang Emas, Bukit Pasir, at 5.45am on Oct 29.

The charge was framed under Section 186 read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum jail term of two years, a fine of up to RM10,000, or both upon conviction.

According to the facts of the case, the complainant, who was also the victim, led an integrated operation to catch stray dogs around Taman Bintang Emas, Bukit Pasir.

Upon arriving at the location, the enforcement team found several dogs roaming in the area.

During the operation, the complainant managed to catch two dogs before the mother and daughter approached and obstructed her duties in an attempt to release the animals.

The complainant warned them against interfering with the enforcement officers' duties and informed them that owners could claim captured dogs at the MPM office.

However, the two women later took the equipment used to catch the dogs. A female enforcement officer who tried to intervene and calm the situation fell to the ground.

Deputy public prosecutor Yasmin Mohd Piah prosecuted, while the accused were represented by lawyer Tan Joes Nan.