Five friends claim trial to attack on transgender woman

SEREMBAN: Five friends including three juveniles have claimed trial to a charge of causing grievous hurt to a 32-year-old transgender woman who had to be hospitalised for five days.

The five – Syaari Aziz, 37, Muhammad Haiqal Mohammad Aris who turns 19 in October, and three juveniles aged between 16 and 17 – had allegedly used a piece of wood and a plastic pipe to assault Shukur Jani at around 12.15am in front of a shoplot in Taman AST here on Aug 15.

They allegedly committed the offence with three others still at large.

They were charged under Section 326 of the Penal Code, and can be jailed for up to 20 years and caned or fined upon conviction.

Based on earlier reports, the victim had among others suffered several broken ribs and a ruptured spleen from the attack.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin asked the Sessions Court on Friday to set bail at RM20,000 with two sureties each due to the gravity of the offence.

However, the counsel for the accused asked for a lower amount as four of the five accused were still studying and came from average-income families.

Syaari's counsel Shahrulazwad Ismail also asked for a lower bail as his client's business had not been operating since his remand last Thursday (Aug 16).

Judge G. Ramesh set bail at RM10,000 with one surety each and fixed Sept 9 for remention.