MALAYSIA— A Malaysian Chinese youth who abused and set fire to a stray dog last month pleaded guilty in the Johor Bahru Sessions Court today (12 Apr) to a charge of committing cruelty to a dog.
The 19-year-old youth, Braden Yap Hong Sheng, was charged with animal cruelty for causing undue pain to a brown female dog in front of premises at Jalan Impian Emas 22, Taman Impian Emas, Skudai, at 1.49 am on 27 March.
According to Malaysia’s state news agency BERNAMA, the prosecution was conducted by Mohd Zamri Shak @ Ishak, prosecuting officer from the Johor’s Veterinary Service Department (JPV).
The charge was framed under section 29 (1) (e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which carries a penalty of a minimum fine of RM 25,000 and a maximum of RM 100,000 (approximately US$22,640) or imprisonment up to three years or both if convicted.
However, Judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim postponed the sentencing to next Tuesday (18 Apr) as Yap’s lawyer, GK Sritharan, was away in the Philippines.
The case revealed that at approximately 12.30 noon on 28 March, a veterinarian from the Johor’s JPV conducted a physical examination on a dog and found that the animal was in a state of fear and had bruising and burns on its left thigh, injuries on its front leg, and bleeding in its left eye.
CCTV footage showed a man hitting and burning the dog in question.
Supt. Fariz Ammar Abdullah, the Deputy Chief of Police of North Johor Bahru, confirmed that police received a report about a man who was believed to have beaten and burned a stray dog while it was still alive.
Braden Yap issued an apology via a 45-second video on his Facebook post after the video went viral on social media, with many netizens questioning the sincerity behind his apology.
“I know no matter how I explain it, I should not and cannot do it. So, I admit my mistake.”
He confessed that he had learned a lesson, was very sorry for what happened, and would reflect and repent.
“I’m really sorry. I promise here that I will never do this again. I hope everyone can give me a chance to reform, and I’m willing to cover the medical expenses.”
The footage, shared by netizen Leow Yee Chin on 28 March, showed acts of abuse by Yap in front of the premises, where Yap repeatedly hit a stray dog with a metal rod before leaving in his car.
After a while, the male returned to the same location, beat the dog again, and threw a brick at it.
He proceeded to light the dog on fire, causing it to run away with its tail ablaze.
