KUALA LUMPUR: A self-employed man was today fined RM4,000 over his role for extorting a contractor late last month. Ironically, the man had extorted the very same amount from the contractor, which led to the fine.

Khairul Rizan Mohd Zaid was handed the penalty by the Magistrate’s Court today when he pleaded guilty to putting fear of injury into victim Yong Yin Soon during an extortion bid on March 29.

On that day around 9am at Taman Koperasi Polis in Gombak, Khairul Rizan, 38, and between six or eight other men extorted the 39-year-old victim.

Khairul Rizan had warned Yong that the entire area was under their “protection” and had even ordered the victim and his colleagues to stop work.

They then left the scene. Khairul Rizan was nabbed by police on April 5. The accused, who was unrepresented today, pleaded for a lenient penalty because he had to look after his three children.

Deputy public prosecutor Noorelynna Hanim Abd Halim pressed for a heavier punishment to deter Khairul Rizan from repeating the offence in future.

Magistrate Ahmad Solihin Abd Wahid fined Khairul Rizan RM4,000, and ordered him to serve five months jail if he failed to pay the fine.

-New Straits Times