Launderette cat killing: Contract worker jailed 34 months, fined RM40,000

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 -- A contract worker who was seen on a viral video killing a cat by placing the animal in a dryer at a self-service launderette, was sentenced to 34 months' jail and fined RM40,000 by the Selayang Sessions Court here today for his cruelty.

Judge Rasyihah Ghazali handed down the sentence on K. Ganesh, 42, after finding him guilty of doing an act that caused unnecessary pain and suffering to the cat.

In her judgment, the judge said the prosecution had succeeded in establishing the case beyond any reasonable doubt.

She ordered Ganesh to serve the jail sentence from today and another four months’ jail if he failed to pay the fine.

“In this case, the accused was the person who put the cat in the dryer and then locked it. I hope this sentence will serve as a lesson to the accused and the public to not be cruel to animals,” she added.

However, the court allowed a stay of execution of the sentence following an application by Ganesh’s lawyer,  S. Muthuveeran, to appeal to the High Court, but increased Ganesh’s bail from RM12,000 to RM20,000.

Earlier, Selangor Veterinary Services Department prosecuting officer Roslan Mohd Isa requested the court to impose a heavy sentence as the crime committed by the accused had gone viral and had angered a lot of people.

“The case involved a domestic cat that did not pose a threat to the accused. The accused has no respect at all for life and does not regard the animal as also having the right to live,” he added.

Ganesh, together with another man already charged, were charged with causing unreasonable suffering to a cat at a launderette in Taman Gombak Ria, Batu Caves here, between 12.54 am and 1 am, on Sept 11, last year.

The charge, framed under Section 29 (1) (e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 and punishable under Section 29 (1) of the same act and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, provides a fine of up to RM100,000 or imprisonment for up to three years or both, upon conviction.

It is the first case to be prosecuted under the law since it was enforced in July 2017.

The case on the cruel killing of the cat was exposed after a footage of a closed-circuit television camera showing the brutal act of three individuals killing the animal went viral on social media.

The cruel act subsequently received criticisms from the public before the Malaysian Animal Association reported the matter to the police.

Last Jan 17, taxi driver A. Mohanraj, 42, who also appeared in the video, was sentenced to two years’ jail for a similar offence after he changed his not guilty plea to guilty.

Another of Mohanraj friend, S.Satthiya, 27, was given a discharge without an acquittal for the same offence.

-- BERNAMA