Australian Cafe Operator Jailed 14 Days for Smoking In The Toilet on Malindo Air Flight from Perth To KL

Australian Cafe Operator Ibrahim Bob Ibrahim Jailed 14 Days for Smoking In The Toilet on Malindo Air Flight from Perth To KL

SEPANG: A cafe operator in Perth, Australia, who admitted he was a hardcore smoker was sentenced to 14 days jail by the Sepang magistrate's court here on Friday after he pleaded guilty to smoking during a Malindo Air flight.

Ibrahim Bob Ibrahim, 46, who holds an Australian passport and is of Jordanian descent, was charged with smoking in the toilet at the back of the Malindo Air flight OD152 from Perth to the KL International Airport on May 24.

Ibrahim was charged under Regulation 73(2) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1996 and could be sentenced under Regulation 188 (6)(a) of the same regulations which carries a fine of up to RM25,000 or jail sentence of up to one year, or both.

Magistrate Sharifah Muhaymin Abdul Khalib ordered the jail sentence to be effective from the date of arrest on May 24.

Ibrahim appeared calm but tired in the dock when the charge was read out to him in English.

According to the facts of the case which were read out in court, a crew member of the flight found the accused smoking and informed the pilot who then lodged a police report.

The items of the case which were brought to the court were a box of cigarettes and a Malindo Air flight ticket belonging to Ibrahim.

In his mitigation, Ibrahim who was represented by counsel Zaflee Pakwanteh claimed the last time he took a flight was eight years ago and at that time, he could still smoke while in-flight.

"My client is a single father and is supporting his mother in Perth, he apologises for the offence committed and had no intention of endangering other passengers. He is a hardcore smoker and finds it difficult to control his addiction," Zaflee said.

Deputy Public Prosecutor S. Abirami urged the court to impose a fitting sentence as the announcement not to smoke in the flight had already been made before it departed Perth and the act of smoking in the toilet could jeopardise other passengers on the plane. - Bernama

Australian Cafe Operator Ibrahim Bob Ibrahim Jailed 14 Days for Smoking In The Toilet on Malindo Air Flight from Perth To KL