An accountant, whose dog mauled to death a 74-year-old senior citizen in Subang Jaya last month, was fined RM2,000 or, in default, two months' jail by a Magistrate's court here on Monday.
Magistrate Mohd Nazri Omran fined Elaine Soon Sien Ling, 28, after she pleaded guilty to negligence with respect to her pet that endangered Yip Sun Wah.
The offence was committed at No. 59, Jalan SS19/5B, Subang Jaya at about 9.40am on May 8.
She was charged under Section 289 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum fine of six months' jail or RM2,000 fine or both if convicted.
In mitigation, Soon said she had met Yip's family to apologise for the incident.
She said she was not at home at the time. Only her mother, who was a retiree, was at home when it happened.
"My dog is healthy, it is always in the cage and my house gate is always locked," she said.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Fatimah Yahya urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence.
According to the facts of the case, the dog had attacked Yip who was on morning jog, in front of Soon's house.
It bit Yip on the neck causing Yip to lose consciousness. Soon's neighbour, a doctor, confirmed that Yip died at the scene.
On May 8, it was reported that the dog ran out of its owner's house through a loosely-secured rubbish compartment door.
The owner had obtained the dog three months earlier, after her house had been robbed.
