However, Johor Bahru sessions court judge Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim postponed the sentencing on Braden Yap to April 18 as his lawyer, GK Sritharan, is away in the Philippines.

Lawyer P Rajakunaseelan, who appeared in court on behalf of Sritharan, had requested that the sentencing be postponed.

“The appointed lawyer is in the Philippines and will be back next week,” he said, according to Bernama.

Yap, 19, was charged with causing cruelty to an animal by causing undue pain to a brown female dog at Jalan Impian Emas 22 in Taman Impian Emas, Skudai, Johor at about 1.50am on March 27.

The charge, framed under Section 29(1)(e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 and punishable under Section 29(1) of the same Act, carries a fine of up to RM100,000 or not more than three years’ jail, or both.

Prosecuting officer Zamri Shak acted on behalf of the Johor veterinary services department.

Previously, FMT reported that CCTV footage showed an individual abusing the stray dogs at a stairwell on three separate occasions.

In addition to throwing objects at two dogs, he was seen hitting one of the strays with a metal rod before driving away, only to return later to set one of them on fire.