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The family of an elderly man injured in a road rage incident in Cheras last weekend has expressed concern over what they view as a lenient sentence imposed on the assailant
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, 8 February, involved 52-year-old businessman Saiful Adli Yusof, who was filmed shouting at and kicking 70-year-old Liew Khoon Foo following a minor road accident.
A one-minute video of the incident showed Saiful kicking the elderly driver, striking him on the head, and shouting threats.
Liew sustained a swollen eye and required six stitches to his tongue.
Saiful was fined RM5,500 after pleading guilty at the Kajang Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 10 February, to assaulting and threatening the victim
He was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, which carries a maximum penalty of one year's imprisonment or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, and under Section 506 for criminal intimidation, punishable by up to two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both. The sentence may extend to seven years if the threat involves death or grievous hurt.
During proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Aida Afiqah Shaari urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, while defence lawyer Muhammad Syakir Haznal asked for a lower penalty.
Syakir said his client, the sole breadwinner supporting four children including a newborn, reacted in distress as his wife and three-day-old infant were in the vehicle during the accident.
The court imposed a total fine of RM5,500 for both charges, with an eight-month jail term in default of payment.
Liew's daughter, Cindy, said the family was disappointed with the outcome and is considering legal action
She said that her father is still traumatised by the incident.
"He is conscious and stable, but the shock has affected him. His appetite is not as good as before," she told the New Straits Times.
Cindy said the family was deeply affected by the incident, and hopes for stricter enforcement and appropriate penalties will help deter similar incidents.
She also noted that no compensation for medical expenses or related losses was ordered by the court.
"I feel the sentence is too light. I don't want to see another motorist suffering the same fate. Even if my father was at fault in the accident, no one has the right to retaliate with violence.
"What if he had been beaten to death? Who would be responsible then?" she questioned.
"If the law is too lenient, people may think that as long as they have money, they can resort to violence and pay their way out of it," she added.
