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The Star

Penang’s youngest executive councillor Fahmi Zainol has been charged at the Magistrate’s Court in the Malaysian state with voluntarily causing hurt to his wife.
The 35-year-old, who is the Pantai Jerejak assemblyman, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before Magistrate Chia Huey Ting.
Based on the charge sheet, he is charged with purposely causing injury to his wife, Nur Hidayah Abd Jabar, 35, at a house in Bayan Lepas at around 10pm on Sunday.
The charge was framed under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, read with Section 326A of the same code for causing hurt to a spouse.
If found guilty, Fahmi could be jailed for up to one year, fined a maximum of 2,000 ringgit (US$510), or both.

Nazran Mohd Sham, Ikmal Affandi Zulkifli and Lim Jin Hong prosecuted the case while Fahmi was represented by Shamsher Singh Thind.
Before Fahmi’s plea was recorded, Shamsher asked for the charge to be dropped in favour of conpensation, the New Straits Times reported.
“At this stage, if the victim has forgiven the alleged offender, the offence would have been compounded and no party could be charged again after discharge,” he said.
Nazran, however, argued that the offence was non-compoundable.
“The offence under [Section 326A] has its own distinct characteristics and cannot be equated with other offences that may qualify for compounding,” he said.
Chia set bail at 2,000 ringgit with one surety and case mention for April 28.
Earlier this week, reports went viral that there had been a domestic dispute between a state executive councillor and his wife, leading to both filing separate police reports.
The couple was said to have had a squabble that led to an alleged physical altercation on Sunday.
Both parties allegedly claimed violence against one another, with the state exco member stating that his wife was violent, physically assaulted him and attempted to stab him with a pair of scissors.

He said that his wife was currently undergoing psychiatric treatment at Penang Hospital.
The wife reportedly claimed that a verbal argument led to a physical altercation between the two and that he had attempted to strangle her, held her hands and punched her.
She said she had hit him in self-defence and that he took away her phone and did not let her leave their home. She claims to have sustained multiple bruises, including on her eye.
According to The Vibes news portal, Fahmi reportedly apologised to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow over the family matter.
It is not clear if Fahmi, who holds the portfolio for Agriculture, Agro-Based Industries and Cooperatives in the state government, will continue in his post.
Some members of ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan have suggested that he be allowed to go on leave while the case is being resolved.
This article was first published by The Star
Additional reporting by SCMP’s Asia desk


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Southeast Asia

Both Penang’s youngest executive councillor and his wife claimed they acted in self-defence after a squabble turned physical


Both Penang’s youngest executive councillor and his wife claimed they acted in self-defence after a squabble turned physical.


Malaysian politics

Crime

Malaysian politician Fahmi Zainol charged with hurting wife in domestic dispute

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Both Penang’s youngest executive councillor and his wife claimed they acted in self-defence after a squabble turned physical

Both Penang’s youngest executive councillor and his wife claimed they acted in self-defence after a squabble turned physical