National junior shuttler Samuel Lee was fined RM25,000 or six months’ jail in default by the Kajang Sessions Court for abusing his dog on his condo balcony last month.

According to the New Straits Times, Judge Mazualina Abdul Rashid delivered the sentence after the 21-year-old pleaded guilty on 30 August.

Lee was charged under Section 29(1)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison, a fine of up to RM100,000, or both upon conviction.

According to the charge sheet, Lee struck his dog on the balcony of his Kajang condominium around midnight on 1 July.

The incident was recorded on video by a neighbour and went viral on social media, prompting intervention from independent rescuers.

The day after the incident, Lee surrendered the traumatised dog to the rescuers, who took it to a veterinary clinic.

According to My Forever Doggo, the husky, named Kitster, will not be returned to Lee but will be adopted by a qualified individual.

During the hearing, Selangor Veterinary Services Department prosecuting officer Mohd Sharif Sabran pushed for a strong sentence.

"The accused’s cruel act of beating the dog until it suffered depression necessitates severe punishment as a public lesson," he stated, as reported by the New Straits Times.

Sharif highlighted that the case had gained widespread attention, reflecting public outrage and the need for serious consequences for animal cruelty.

In contrast, Lee's lawyer, Rajashree Suppiah, requested a lighter sentence, noting that Lee had rescued Kitster from a previous family that neglected the dog.

She suggested that the dog’s distress at the vet may have been due to being taken by strangers.

After hearing both sides, Judge Mazualina remarked that with Lee’s education level, he should have known better than to harm animals.