Teen pleads guilty to setting kitten on fire
The 13-year-old boy being brought to the magistrates’ court in Kajang today. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: A 13-year-old boy today pleaded guilty in the Kajang magistrates’ court to setting a kitten on fire at a block of flats last week.
The teenager admitted his guilt after the charge was read to him before magistrate Nik Siti Norazlini Nik Mohamed Faiz, Sinar Harian reported.
He was accused, along with two men still at large, of causing unnecessary pain or suffering to the cat on April 22.
The charge was framed under Section 29 (1) (e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772) read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
Those convicted under the Act may be fined between RM20,000 and RM100,000 or jailed for up to three years, or both, upon conviction.
During the proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Nurul Afiqah Abdul Ghaffar proposed for bail to be set at RM10,000 in one surety on grounds that it was a serious case as it involved animal cruelty and was of public interest.
However, the teenager’s mother appealed for a lower bail as she was only working in a factory.
The single mother said she was also looking after her elderly mother and would not be able to afford it if the bail was set too high.
The court then fixed bail at RM1,000 in one surety.
It also fixed June 27 for remention for a probation report before sentencing.
A video clip of the incident which went viral showed three people loitering at the flats’ motorcycle parking lot before two of them splashed fuel on a kitten believed to be six weeks old.
Yesterday, the Selangor veterinary services department said it had opened an investigation paper into the case. It also said the kitten was in good condition.