BALIK PULAU: A delivery rider was charged at a Magistrate's Court here on Monday (Jan 13) with possessing two imitation semi-automatic rifle-type barrels without a valid licence, Malay language daily Sinar Harian reports.
According to the charge, the accused, Mohd Nasir Othman, 47, was alleged to have possessed a gun barrel marked "Combat Machine Cal. 7-8mm Water Bullet Gun" and a gun barrel marked "Property of U.S. Govt. M4A1 Carbine Cal. 5.56mm M010805" without a valid licence.
He was accused of committing the offence at a house on Jalan Lintang Bayan 6, Sungai Ara, Bayan Lepas at 9am on Jan 6.
Mohd Nasir was charged under Section 36(1) of the Firearms Act 1960, punishable under the same section, with a jail term of not more than one year, or a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or both.
The accused nodded in understanding and pleaded guilty after the charge was read out to him by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) R. Lushini, before Magistrate Chia Huey Ting.
The accused was represented by the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) lawyer Edmund Anthony Hermon.
In mitigation, Edmund requested a minimum fine as the accused needs to support his wife and six school-going children.
"I request the court to impose a minimum fine as the accused has two wives and six children.
"His wife does not work, the accused is the sole breadwinner of the family with a monthly income of RM1,200.
"The accused did not know that the weapon was dangerous because it uses gel-based bullets. Furthermore, this is the accused's first offence," he said.
Meanwhile, when asked by Magistrate Chia about the purpose of buying the weapon, the accused said he bought the weapon to play with his 11-year-old child at home.
"I bought it on TikTok to play with my child. I didn't know the weapon was dangerous because it was advertised as only using 'water gel based' bullets," he said.
In her judgement, Magistrate Chia advised the accused not to buy toys online but to buy them in a toy store.
"Do you know, if the gel bullet is replaced with a steel bullet, it could pose a danger to the public? Why buy weapons like this on TikTok?
"Next time buy it at a toy store, not on TikTok," she said.
She then imposed a fine of RM1,800 on the accused and if he fails to pay, he could be sentenced to a month in prison.
