Justice Azhar Abdul Hamid ruled that the original punishment for Leong Kuen, 67, was below the statutory minimum provided for in Section 427 of the Penal Code.

He told Leong during proceedings that the High Court was reviewing the case as the lower court had erred in sentencing.

“The minimum sentence for (the offence) under Section 427 of the Penal Code (committing mischief) is one year.

“But the magistrate gave you a 10-month sentence last month,” he said, adding that Leong would serve his sentence from the date of his arrest on Feb 18.

Leong, who was present in the dock, told the court he understood the proceedings.

Last month, he pleaded not guilty to vandalising five ATM screens at the bank on Feb 17, causing losses of RM43,271.

He also faces separate charges of vandalism involving ATM screens at other banks between Feb 16 and 17.