Magistrate Noor Azreen Liana Mohd Darus handed down the sentence to M Gunalan, 47, from Taman Rasi Jaya here, after he pleaded guilty to uttering abusive words and spitting at Nor Asni Zilzawani Mohd Zahid, who had reminded him to comply with the SOPs set under the conditional movement control order (CMCO).

Gunalan was charged with committing the offence at a grocery store in Lahat Baru 2 here at 8.40pm last Monday under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which deals with insulting the modesty of any individual. Offenders may be jailed for up to five years, fined or both upon conviction.

The court also ordered Gunalan to be jailed for four months if he failed to pay the fine. He paid the fine.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Nur Asmaniza Mohammad asked the court to impose an appropriate penalty because his actions disturbed interracial sensitivity.

In mitigation, the former fish seller, represented by lawyer Robert S Gnanarajan, asked for leniency, saying that he was no longer employed due to Covid-19 and regretted his actions.