The three being taken to the Sessions Court to be charged for the offences.
SEREMBAN: Three men, including two brothers, were each ordered to serve 26 days in jail by the Sessions Court here after they pleaded guilty to splashing red paint on two houses.
Brothers Mohd Lutfi Laily, 31 and Mohd Rusdy Safuan Laily, 29 as well as Ameerul Ridhuan Shamsudin, also 29, who had been hired by an unlicensed moneylender to commit the acts, did not contest the two charges after they were read out before judge Norshila Kamaruddin on Friday (May 12).
For the first charge, the three were accused of committing the offence at a house in Taman Pinggiran Golf at 5.42am on April 22.
Apart from splashing red paint in the compound and on the perimeter wall of the house, they also left a note threatening the borrower that more drastic measures would be taken if she failed to pay up.
For the second offence, they were charged with committing the same offence at a house in Taman Paroi Jaya at around 5.30am the same morning.
They also left behind a note threatening the borrower that the house would be splashed with petrol if payment was not made.
They were charged under Section 29B(1) of the Moneylenders Act 1951 read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
Offenders can be fined between RM50,000 and RM250,000 or jailed up to three years or both upon conviction.
In mitigation, Mohd Rusdy said the three had cooperated with the police and the individual who engaged them had since been imprisoned.
He also appealed for a light sentence as he had to look after his mother who recently suffered a stroke and was unable to work.
Mohd Lutfy, a p-hailing driver, and self-employed Ameerul Ridhuan also appealed for light sentences adding that they were remorseful for what they did. The three were unrepresented.
Deputy public prosecutor Kalaivaanan Murty urged the court to impose a custodial sentence as they had committed a serious offence and that their actions left the victims traumatised.
He said the court also had to take into account public interest while sending a message about the consequences of committing such crimes.
Judge Norshila then sentenced the accused to serve 12 days in jail for the first offence and 14 days for the second, and ordered these to run consecutively.
She also advised them to stay away from anyone involved in illegal activities.
