PETALING JAYA: A 13-year-old boy pleaded guilty to setting a kitten on fire in the parking lot of the Sri Kenari Flats in Sungai Ramal Baru, Kajang on April 22.
According to New Straits Times, the teen had committed the offence along with two others who are still at large.
The teen was charged under Section 29(1)(e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
The offence carries a fine of not less than RM20,000 and a maximum of RM100,000 or imprisonment of not more than three years, or both, upon conviction.
He pleaded guilty after the charge was read out to him before magistrate Nik Siti Norazlini Nik Mohamed Faiz.
“This is a serious case as it involved the offence of animal cruelty and this involves public interest,” Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Afiqah Abdul Ghaffar was quoted as saying, and offered RM10,000 bail with one surety.
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His 30-year-old single mother pleaded for a lower bail as she said she was the sole breadwinner of the family supporting her only son and her aged mother with a monthly salary of RM1,500.
The court granted the teenager bail of RM1,000 with one surety.
A video footage from CCTV of the incident went viral showing three men loitering at the flat’s motorcycle parking lot before two allegedly splashed fuel on a kitten estimated to be six weeks old.
DVS (Department of Veterinary Services) also confirmed receiving a report from the Hulu Langat police headquarters (IPD) on April 24 regarding the episode.
They also confirmed that the kitten is in good condition under the supervision of DVS Selangor veterinary officers.
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