Magistrate Syed Farid Syed Ali meted out the sentence to Faizul Razak, 33, after finding that the offences committed between Feb 7 and Feb 18 were serious and a matter of public interest.

“The court does not wish to give the impression to society that fines can be imposed after an accused person pleads guilty, as this would open the floodgate for others to commit crime (thinking they can get away easily),” he said.

According to the facts of the case, Faizul broke into the home of his estranged wife Nur Shahira Baharum in the early hours of Feb 7, went into her room, and forcibly took her away.

Family members, including their daughter, woke up during the incident and tried to intervene, but Faizul took out the fake gun which he had bought from Thailand and pointed it at them, threatening them into compliance.

He then took Shahira to an unauthorised border entry point, where he assaulted her after she refused to go to Thailand with him.

On Feb 18, police attempted to arrest him at a restaurant, but he resisted and acted aggressively towards the officers.

Farid sentenced Faizul to two years in jail for tresspass, five years for criminal intimidation, one year for assalut, and one year for obstructing the police.

He also imposed fines of RM10,000 each for trespass and assault, and RM5,000 for the fake firearm offence.