A Canadian guy was fined RM800 for shopping in a mall without a mask.
After pleading guilty to refusing to wear a face mask and making a rude attitude toward personnel who admonished him at a mall here last week, Canadian Travis Lee Theberg was fined RM800 by the Magistrate’s Court here today.
The 44-year-old man was fined RM700 for not wearing a face mask in a closed area and RM100 for pointing his middle finger at Village Grocer personnel at M-City Mall on Jalan Ampang.
Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act of 1955 and Regulation 18 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) Regulations were used to charge him.
Jayananda Rao, Theberg’s lawyer, told Malay Mail that his client was sorry for his actions last week.
Theberg had been ill and had failed to take his medication. According to the lawyer, he told me he didn’t even realise he wasn’t wearing a mask and couldn’t recollect what provoked him.
When asked what drugs Theberg was missing, Jayananda stated he didn’t ask his client.
According to Jayananda, Theberg recognises his remorse and wants to make atonement. He also promises to do better.
Theberg was not arrested, according to the lawyer, but rather submitted himself to police after learning he was the subject of a viral video the day following the event.
According to Jayananda, Theberg first presented himself at the Tun Razak police station before being directed to the Pudu police station, where he was informed that he would be charged.
Since April 16, videos have circulated showing Theberg entering the mall without a mask and behaving angrily with other customers and mall employees who questioned why he was not wearing a face mask as required by law while in enclosed public spaces.
“What are you going to do?” he was heard confronting the mall employees, then jabbing his finger in the employee’s face.
Theberg is reported to be employed in the oil and gas industry and was in Malaysia earlier this year.
