Papagomo fined RM4,300 for assaulting Pakistani

Blogger Papagomo was fined RM4,300 by the Magistrate's Court here today for injuring a labourer from Pakistan by slapping, punching and kicking the victim.

A video recording of the incident went viral on social sites.

Magistrate Husna Dzulkifly handed down the sentence to Papagomo, whose real name is Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, 33, after he pleaded guilty to three charges, namely slapping, punching on the left cheek as well as kicking at the groin of Khuram Shahzad, 33.

He was charged with committing the offences in front of Starparc Point, Wangsa Maju here at 1.30 on Jan 29 under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail sentence of one year or a maximum fine of RM2,000 (for each charge).

The court also ordered Papagomo to serve 10 months' jail if he failed to pay the fine. The accused paid the fine.

For the charge of slapping the victim, Papagomo was fined RM1,000 or two months' jail; for the offence of hitting the victim he was fined RM1,500 or three months' jail, and for kicking the victim in the groin he was fined RM1,800 or five months' jail.

Based on the facts of the case, the victim was working when he was approached by the accused with several men including his two younger sisters as well as another woman.

The accused later directed the victim and his two friends to line up before him before asking his two sisters to identify the individual who allegedly sexually harassed them.

The victim who appeared confused as he did not understand and know the cause of the incident, was suddenly slapped, hit and kicked by the accused.

The victim later made a police report for being attacked by unidentified man.

Earlier, in appealing for a lighter sentence, counsel Azizzul Shariman Mat Yusoff, who represented the accused, told the court that his client did not act blindly.

"Based on the facts of the case, three women including two sisters of the accused were sexually harassed by the victim. So the accused did not act blindly," he said.

He said the injuries sustained by the victim were not serious and he took five weeks to lodge a police report while the accused needed to support his wife who is not working as well as four children.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Zikri Jaafar urged the court to impose the appropriate punishment as a lesson to the accused as such incidents frequently happened.

"I believe the accused using the name Papagomo is well-known among many and should set a good example. The court is called to mete a punishment which could be a lesson to the accused and members of the public," he said.

According to recent media reports, a four-minute video recording which went viral on social media showed Papagomo slapping, hitting and kicking a man.