A 13-year-old boy pleads guilty to setting kitten on fire in Malaysia

MALAYSIA: A 13-year-old boy appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday (3 May), pleading guilty to the heinous act of setting a kitten on fire in a motorcycle parking area of a flat in Kajang last week.

The confession came swiftly after the charges were read aloud by an interpreter in the presence of Magistrate Nik Siti Norazlini Nik Mohamed Faiz.

The charges allege that the adolescent, along with two others who remain at large, mercilessly inflicted pain on a cat by setting it ablaze in a flat complex at 1:08 pm on 22 April.

The accused faces charges under 29(1)(e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, coupled with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, he could face a fine ranging from RM20,000 to RM100,000 (US$4,220 to US$21,100), to a prison sentence of up to three years, or both.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Afiqah Abdul Ghaffar sought a bail of RM10,000 (US$2,110), emphasizing the severity of the offense concerning animal cruelty and its implications for public interest.

In response, the juvenile offender’s 30-year-old mother, citing her modest monthly income of RM1,500 (US$316) as a factory worker in an electronics company and her status as a single mother, appealed for a reduction in bail.

After considering arguments from both sides, Nik Siti Norazlini granted bail at RM1,000 (US$211) with one surety.

The court also scheduled 27 June for the submission of a character report from the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) before sentencing.

The incident has sparked widespread public outcry since footage of the incident surfaced on social media.

The CCTV footage, shared on Animal Malaysia’s Instagram account on 23 April, depicts a group of individuals loitering in a motorcycle parking area.

One of them is seen pouring oil on a defenseless kitten before setting it alight, causing the terrified animal to flee in flames.

The injured six-week-old cat was quickly taken to a private animal clinic in Ampang for treatment of severe second-degree burns before being placed in the custody of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) on 24 April.

The DVS confirmed that the kitten is currently in good condition under the care of veterinary officers from Selangor DVS.

KENYATAAN MEDIA
BERHUBUNG KES KUCING DIBAKAR DI FLAT SUNGAI KENARI, SUNGAI RAMAL BARU, KAJANG

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— Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar 🇲🇾 (@DVSMalaysia) May 2, 2024