Singaporean fined in Malaysia after breaking motorist's car windshield in road rage incident

MUAR: A Singaporean was fined RM5,500 (US$1,150) by a Malaysia court on Wednesday (Feb 14) after pleading guilty to breaking a motorist's car windshield in a road rage incident on an expressway in Johor.

Soh Kian Hui, 45, was accused of breaking the rear windshield of a Toyota Fortuner belonging to a 31-year-old man.

The incident occurred at 1.58pm on Saturday on the North-South Expressway in Pagoh, Muar. The damage caused amounted to RM2,502.35.

A video clip of the incident had gone viral on social media.

In the video, a driver is seen getting out of his vehicle after a man hits his car. The man then uses what appears to be a golf club to break the rear window of the other vehicle.

Magistrate Fatin Dalilah Khalid imposed the fine on Soh and ordered him to serve 12 months in prison if he failed to settle the fine.

He was charged with mischief under Section 427 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of five years, a fine or both.

Soh, who was represented by National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Norain Sakina Zikri, had appealed for a light sentence during the proceedings. The appeal was made on the basis that he is a taxi driver making around S$3,000 (US$2,220) and takes care of his 71-year-old mother who recently underwent cancer surgery.

However, deputy public prosecutor Mohammad Ariff Marzuki requested a stiffer sentence as a deterrent in the interest of the public.