[melmel]

28th June 2012

Petnode owners fined RM6,000 for animal neglect


PETALING JAYA: Two owners of animal care centre Petnode, who pleaded guilty to 30 counts of animal neglect last year, have been fined RM200 for each charge.

Magistrate Elena Hong Tze Lan said she could not sentence them to prison time as she was bound by Section 44(2) of the Animal Act, which states that offenders must be given a chance to pay a fine before being sentenced to prison time.

Shahrul Azuwan Adanan and Yushairi Khairuddin, both 29, had been charged under Section 44 (1)(d) of the Animal Act 1953.

Many pet owners and animal lovers, who had gathered at the court, were disappointed with the sentence, with several in tears and yelling at the two accused as they left court.