Four fined RM500 each for cooking at petrol station

 

The Bentong Magistrate’s Court today imposed a RM500 fine each on four individuals who cooked instant noodles at a petrol station in Genting Highlands.

In passing the sentence, magistrate Nadhratun Naiem Zainan asked the four accused: “How can you think of cooking in a petrol station? Did it not occur to you that there were gas tanks (underneath)? And then upload it on social media,” reported Kosmo.

The four were identified as real estate agent Nur Azira Azman, 23, food stall operator Fadhli Zil Ikram Sazalin Isran, customer service representative Nur Fatin Irdina Shahrulnizam and dental assistant Nur Anis Salleh, who are all 24.

All the accused, from Malacca, pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 336 of the Penal Code for acts which endanger life or the personal safety of others, read together with Section 34 of the same Act.

During mitigation, all four pleaded for lower fines as it was their first offence, and that they had to support their parents and siblings.

‘Other places were full’

Fadhli told the court that they had planned to cook somewhere else, but all the other places “were full.”

Therefore, the group decided to have the cookout at the place they deemed was “far” from the fuel pumps, he said.

Fatin said that the cookout was a “random act” done without considering the dangers they may pose to others because they were all hungry.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Zamharir Muhammad Zuhid prosecuted while all four accused were unrepresented.

Previously, a video was circulated online showing a group of youths cooking instant noodles with woks, portable gas stoves, and other camping equipment near a petrol station.

According to media reports, netizens criticised those involved in the incident as being reckless due to the use of open flames near the petrol station, potentially posing a fire hazard.

It was alleged that two of the people involved were children of a deputy minister, but police have since clarified that no children of VIPs were involved.

The police subsequently arrested 15 individuals aged 23 to 28 on Saturday to facilitate investigations. The remaining individuals were freed after questioning.