Criminologist flags rise in road violence as court fines trader

Criminologist flags rise in road violence as court fines trader

KUALA LUMPUR: The assault of a 70-year-old man following a minor accident in Cheras last Sunday was more than a routine criminal case, a criminologist said.

Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy warned that the incident highlighted a disturbing tendency among some motorists to abandon lawful dispute resolution mechanisms in favour of violence.

“The incident occurred near a traffic light after a minor accident, where a motorist assaulted and threatened the elderly victim. Even on the bare facts provided, the encounter was not between equals,” he told the New Straits Times.

The case attracted widespread attention on social media after a video of the incident went viral, sparking debate over road rage, public safety and sentencing standards.

Yesterday, trader Saiful Adli Yusof, 52, was fined RM5,500 by the magistrate’s court after pleading guilty to two charges, one under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt and one under Section 506 for criminal intimidation.

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On the first charge, he was accused of causing hurt to Liew Khoon Foo, 70, by punching and kicking his face and body. Liew suffered a bruised eye, a swollen chin and a bleeding tongue. The second charge involved criminal intimidation by threatening to kill the victim.

In pleading for a minimum fine, Saiful told the court that he was the sole breadwinner of his family with four children, including a newborn, and that he acted out of distress as his wife and 3-day-old infant were in the vehicle during the accident.

Sundramoorthy said Saiful chose violence, a decision that could never be normalised or excused as a lapse of temper in a society governed by the rule of law.

He pointed to the apparent absence of serious provocation, noting that even if the victim had attempted to leave the scene, the proper response would have been to record details and file a police report.

“Choosing violence over lawful recourse represents a conscious rejection of the rule of law,” he said, adding that the case underscored a broader issue of civility on Malaysian roads.

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“Laws can punish wrongdoing, but they cannot replace self-control, empathy and respect.”

Community Policing Malaysia chairman Kuan Chee Heng said the sentence was inadequate and risked sending the wrong message to the public.

Kuan, better known as Uncle Kentang, said while the punishment fell within the ambit of the law, it did not reflect the seriousness of the offence or serve as a sufficient deterrent.

He also expressed concern that the lenient sentence could embolden similar acts of aggression on the road.