A Malaysian man landed himself in legal trouble after allegedly filing a false police report to hide the fact that he had gone drinking at a nightclub and lost his mobile phone there.
The incident reportedly took place in Kulim, where the 34-year-old man was eventually charged in court after police uncovered inconsistencies in his story.
According to local reports, the man initially claimed that he had been robbed by two men riding a motorcycle while standing outside a nasi kandar restaurant in the Kulim Hi-Tech Industrial Park area at around 1.30am on May 7.
He alleged that the suspects had snatched away his mobile phone before fleeing the scene.
Police Become Suspicious During Investigation
However, investigators reportedly became suspicious after looking into the case further.
Police later called the man back for additional questioning on the evening of the same day.
During the follow-up interview, the man eventually admitted that the robbery story was fabricated.
He confessed that he had actually lost his phone while drinking at a nightclub in Butterworth.
The man allegedly feared that his girlfriend would find out he had gone partying and drinking, prompting him to invent the snatch theft story instead.
His actions resulted in police officers spending time and manpower investigating an incident that never happened.
Man Pleads Guilty In Court
The accused later appeared before the Kulim Magistrate’s Court, where he pleaded guilty to providing false information to police officers.
He was charged under Section 182 of Malaysia’s Penal Code for intentionally giving false information to a public servant, causing authorities to carry out unnecessary investigations.
Under Malaysian law, the offence carries a possible jail sentence of up to six months, a fine of up to RM2,000 (approximately S$570), or both.
The court eventually sentenced him to a RM1,000 fine (around S$285). If he fails to pay the fine, he could face a two-month jail term instead.
Court Told Man Was Remorseful
During mitigation, the man’s legal aid lawyer reportedly told the court that he regretted his actions and was a first-time offender.
The lawyer also highlighted that the accused was unmarried and had elderly parents to care for.
Meanwhile, the prosecution argued that the false report wasted public funds and police resources, urging the court to impose a heavier punishment.
False police reports are treated seriously in Malaysia and Singapore, as they can divert emergency services and investigators away from genuine crimes and public safety concerns.
Image via Sinchew