Six more charged for Seafield temple riot

PETALING JAYA (Bernama): Another six men, including the president of the Malaysian Indian Association, were charged in the Magistrate's Court here Monday (Dec 24) in connection with the riot at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Subang Jaya, Selangor.

This brings the total number of people charged over the Nov 26 incident to 24.

All the six men, including M. Manimaran, 38, however, pleaded not guilty after all the charges against them were read out separately before Magistrate Mohamad Ikhwan Mohd Nasir.

Manimaran was charged with three counts – obstructing a public officer from discharging his duty, rioting, and causing hurt, while the five others were charged under Section 148 of the Penal Code with possession of weapons at riot.

The five are Mohammad Shahril Danniel Sajel, 22, Mohammad Saifullah Abdullah, 31, Muhammad Hasneezam Shah Samsudin, 29, Akmal Izzat Aziz, 24 and Mohd Norul Ismawi Islahuddin, 40.

They join 13 others who have already been charged. There are still a few people at large. 

On the first charge, Manimaran was alleged to have obstructed a policeman from discharging his duty, an offence under Section 186 of the Penal Code which provides imprisonment for up to two years or a maximum fine of RM10,000, or both, if found guilty.

He is also charged, together with 50 members of an unlawful organisation who are still at large, with rioting with intention to prevent police patrol cars from leaving the temple compound.

The charge, under Section 147 of the Penal Code, provides imprisonment for up to two years, or with fine, or with both, if found guilty.

Manimaran is also charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt on one Sulaiman Abdullah, 32, and faces imprisonment for up to seven years, and is liable to fine, if found guilty of the offence under Section 325 of the Penal Code.

All the offences were allegedly committed at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya here between 2am and 1.30 pm last Nov 26.

Manimaran was allowed bail of RM18,000 in one surety, while Mohammad Shahril Danniel's bail was set at RM5,000 in one surety.

The other four accused were allowed bail of RM6,000 in one surety each.

All of them were also ordered to report themselves at the nearest police station twice a month and to surrender their passports to the court. The court set Jan 17 for mention.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Zhafran Rahim Hamzah, while all the accused were represented by lawyers John Das, Datuk Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar, R. Sritheran and Mohd Hezri Shaharil. – Bernama