Magistrate Anis Hanini Abdullah also ordered M Thineshkumar, 23, to serve a month in prison if he failed to pay the fine, Astro Awani reported.

According to the charge, Thineshkumar, a mechanic, beat and injured a male dog with a metal rod at a house in Lebuh Kledang Utara 30, Taman Arkid, Ipoh, Perak, between 10.30pm on Sept 18 and 9am on Sept 19.

He was charged with animal cruelty under Section 29(1)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which provides for a fine of RM20,000 to RM100,000, up to three years’ imprisonment, or both upon conviction.

At around 9.15am on Sept 19, Thineshkumar’s older sister received a call from a neighbour informing her that her younger brother had beaten her dog to death.

She brought her dog to a veterinary clinic, where it was confirmed dead due to a blow to the head.

The prosecution was managed by deputy public prosecutor Amal Azimah Abd Kohar while Thineshkumar was unrepresented.

Thineshkumar was arrested on Monday in relation to a viral video of a dog being beaten to death with a metal rod.

Ipoh police chief Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad said a report was lodged on Sept 19 at the Menglembu police station.

He said the case was being investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation of a family member and Section 29(1)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 for animal cruelty.

The 90-second video shows a man chasing after a dog and hitting it with a metal rod while a woman tries to stop him.

The video then cuts to the dog lying on a table and bleeding profusely.