SIBU: A lorry driver was fined RM4,000, in default of two months’ jail, by the Magistrate’s Court here today after he pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a renowned singer last Monday (Dec 30).
Mel Maxpherson Munded, 35, pleaded guilty to the offence after the charges were read to him by the court interpreter before magistrate Oon Kork Chern.
He was charged under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation, which carries a maximum of seven years’ jail or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
According to the charge sheet, Mel was accused of attempting to criminally intimidate the singer Nor Ashima Ramli, fondly known as Baby Shima, with a death threat in the comments section of her Facebook account.
Fearing for her safety, the singer lodged a police report.
The following day (Dec 31), Mel filed a police report claiming that his Facebook account had been hacked by an unknown individual.
However, Mel was arrested by the police later that night at a premises in Kota Sentosa, Kuching.
Based on the police investigation, a statement recorded from Mel revealed that on Dec 31, while at his residence, Mel had accessed his Facebook account and posted the threatening comment on Baby Shima’s Facebook account.
At that time, the Facebook account was indeed under Mel’s control and had not been hacked by anyone.
Mel, who was unrepresented, paid the fine.
