A single mother who went into a rage and scratched her ex-husband's car with a piece of rock was fined RM1,500 by the Magistrate's Court here today.

Magistrate Mohd Firdaus Salleh handed down the sentence on Salmila Saludin, 38, after she pleaded guilty to the charge and ordered her to serve a three-month prison sentence if she failed to pay the fine.

The mother of three paid the fine.

Salmila vandalised the car belonging to her husband Nordin Mohd Ali, 48, by using a piece of rock at No. 6, LP 12 Limbongan Permai here, at about 6.45pm on Jan 27.

The accused, who was unrepresented, was charged under Section 427 of the Penal Code which provides for up to two years in prison or a fine or both.

Earlier in mitigation, Salmila pleaded for leniency on the grounds that she committed the offence after her former husband prevented her from meeting her children.

"I do not want to be imprisoned because I want to observe the fasting month with my three children aged 9, 12 and 13, and I am also unemployed," she said while sobbing.

The prosecution was handled by prosecuting officer ASP Nora Yaacob.

-- BERNAMA