Yee Kok Chew, 57, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read out before Magistrate Mohd Azali Ibrahim.

He was charged with ill-treating a mongrel dog by hitting it and causing the animal to suffer pain at a guard house at Taman Melody, Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, here at 8.49pm on April 2 this year.

The charge, under Section 44 (1)(a) of the Animal Act 1953, provides a fine of up to RM50,000, or imprisonment for up to a year, or both, if found guilty.

Yee was allowed bail of RM3,000 in one Malaysian surety and the court also set Sept 4 for mention of the case.

Deputy public prosecutor Shafiq Hasim prosecuted while Yee was represented by counsel Joshua Andran.

Last April, a video recording showing an image of a man hitting a dog at a guard house of a housing area at Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, went viral on the social media.

The dog is now placed at the Petaling Jaya Veterinary Office.