Facing the law: Abdul Razak (centre) being escorted by policemen out of the Magistrate’s Court in Johor Baru. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: A retiree accused of slapping a non–Muslim youth for eating in public during Ramadan has claimed trial after being charged for a second time in the Magistrate’s Court here.
Former public servant Abdul Razak Ismail, 65, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before magistrate A. Shaarmini.
He was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code with voluntarily causing hurt to 21-year-old Elijah Ling Zhao Zhong.
Earlier in the day, Abdul Razak was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in the same court.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Fatihah Mohd Nizam told the court that the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) had issued instructions to classify the case as DNAA.
The AGC, in a statement, said there were technical issues in the case filed earlier and that the man would be charged again later.
Abdul Razak is accused of committing the offence at a shopping mall in Tampoi at about 6.15pm.
He faces a maximum one-year jail term, a fine of up to RM2,000 or both, upon conviction.
DPP Nor Afiqah Musa requested bail to be set at RM8,000.
Lawyer Mohd Salleh Togimin appealed for a lower amount, saying his client is a retiree with three children, including a university student, to support.
Shaarmini granted bail at RM2,000 in one surety and set April 29 for mention.
In the earlier hearing, Abdul Razak pleaded guilty to injuring the victim but disputed the facts of the case.
Shaarmini rejected his guilty plea despite his attempt to retract his words.
“We do not accept a conditional guilty plea,” she said before setting the next mention of the case.
Just as bail was being set, DPP Nur Fatihah told the court about the AGC’s directive.
On Sunday, two video clips of the alleged incident – lasting 32 seconds and 44 seconds – went viral on social media.
The next day, Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Balveer Singh confirmed that the police had received a report from the victim, who alleged that he was slapped twice on the right cheek by an unknown man.
