Magistrate Nik Siti Norazlini Nik Faiz made the decision after reviewing the boy’s behavioural report submitted by the social welfare department.

The court also ordered the teenager to attend interactive workshops organised by the department and set a one-year curfew from 10pm to 6am.

Appearing for the boy, lawyer Lee Teong Hooi said during the appeal his client tearfully admitted his wrongdoing and promised not to repeat the act.

“He apologised to the court and requested to be enrolled in school. He will start next year,” he told reporters after the proceedings.

Deputy public prosecutor Norfarhanim Abdul Halim appeared for the prosecution.

The boy, along with two others still at large, was charged with cruelly causing pain to the kitten by setting it ablaze at 1.08pm on April 22, under Paragraph 29(1)(e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

Previously, a video went viral on social media showing two youths dousing what appeared to be a six-week-old kitten with a flammable substance before a third youth set it on fire.