Magistrate Rais Imran Hamid also ordered that Fitri Aiqal Hussaini serve a nine-month jail term if he fails to pay the fine.

Fitri was convicted after pleading guilty to a charge under Section 8 of the Explosives Act 1957.

The 70 boxes of firecrackers and fireworks were forfeited to the government.

Fitri committed the offence on Feb 4, at a premises at Jalan Pasir Puteh, Kota Bharu.

According to the facts of the case, police raided the premises after receiving information that firecrackers and fireworks were stored inside.

The premises did not possess a permit or licence allowing the firecrackers and fireworks to be kept there.

Fitri was at the premises when the raid took place.

During the proceedings today, Rais said Fitri had entered the guilty plea on his own volition and without coercion.

“The court took steps to explain the charges, the facts of the case, and the sentence to the accused (Fitri) so that the accused truly understood the guilty plea that he himself made,” he added.

Rais said Fitri’s actions put local residents at risk due to the large quantity of explosives stored at the premises.

“The accused has no legal justification other than being driven by the desire to take advantage of the excitement in the Aidilfitri celebration, to the point of being willing to take the risk of possessing a large quantity of unlicensed explosives stored in a large warehouse,” he said.