Kota Kinabalu: A 25-year-old soldier was fined RM5,500 or jailed 10 months by the Magistrate’s Court here for smoking an electronic cigarette (vape) on board an AirAsia flight.
Muhd Aliy Joni pleaded guilty before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin to committing the offence at 9.05am on Aug 21, this year, on board AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA). Aliy was charged under Regulation 100(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016, punishable under Regulation 206(2)(a) of the same regulations, which carries a fine of up to RM25,000, or one year’s jail, or both, on conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Muhammad Yousof Tahir Mahmood informed the court that the airline’s assistant security officer lodged a police report at 10.48am the same day after a male passenger was caught vaping during the flight.
Investigations revealed that the man, identified as Aliy, seated at 3A, was seen openly using his vape and was reprimanded by a senior cabin crew member.
However, he ignored the warning and continued vaping. Upon arrival at the KKIA at 9.25am, Aliy was handed over to the police for further action. He was later identified as an army personnel attached to 15 RAMD Camp, Senawang, Negeri Sembilan, who was returning to his hometown in Kg Rugading, Tuaran, for a holiday until Sept 2, 2025. Police seized a Quik-brand vape and Aliy’s boarding pass during the arrest. Aliy paid the fine.
In another case, two women were each fined RM1,500 or jailed one month for having gambling paraphernalia.
Nurfatihah Subana, 24, and Krisya Markus, 26, pleaded guilty separately to committing the offences framed under Section 9(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or a jail term of up to six months jail or both, on conviction.
Nurfatihah was found to have six illegal lottery tickets on Oct 23, this year, at 3.15pm, while Krisya was found to have two lottery tickets without a licence on Oct 23, this year, at 4.14pm, both in Donggongon town.
Prosecuting Officer Inspector Yusdi Basri informed the court that both Nurfatihah and Krisya were arrested by police during the “Ops Dadu” after they were found involved in the gambling activities.
Meanwhile, a 31-year-old man was fined RM100 or three days in jail for failing to explain a cash deposit of RM3,630 in his bank account, two years ago.
Sebastian Lee pleaded guilty to failing to provide a reasonable explanation as to how he obtained the money, belonging to one Fatima Shafina, which had been deposited into a bank account belonging to him, on Oct 18, 2023, at 3.02pm, at CIMB Bank, Api-Api Centre here.
The offence under Section 22A(1) of the Minor Offences Ordinance provides for a fine of RM100 or up to three months jail or both, on conviction.
The facts of the case presented by the prosecution, stated that on Oct 18, 2023, while at work, the complainant received a call from scammers posing as a courier company staff and police officers, falsely claiming the complainant was involved in drug smuggling and money laundering.
The scammers convinced the complainant to transfer RM3,300 to a CIMB account for a so-called “internal investigation” to clear the complainant’s name.
Realising it was a scam after the call ended, the complainant lodged a police report for further action.
