GEORGE TOWN: Four men have pleaded not guilty to charges of extortion and inducing fear to gain money, including impersonating police officers, at a magistrate's court here.
P. Veeran, 36, S. Rohan Raj, 22, L. Yuvarajan, 21, and S. Siva, 22, first claimed trial to joint charges of extorting RM18,000 in cash before Magistrate Mohamad Azlan Basri.
According to the charge sheet, all four were accused of deliberately committing extortion and inducing fear in S. Prabakaran, 55, on March 21, 2025, around 12.30am at an apartment in Jalan Helang, Gelugor.
They allegedly threatened Prabakaran with arrest by the police, resulting in him handing over RM18,000.
They were charged under Section 384 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same act, which provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years, or a fine, or whipping, or any two of the punishments upon conviction.
Lawyer R. Purantharan, representing all four accused, urged for a minimum bail, noting Veeran is unemployed and supports his family of three children, Rohan is a security guard supporting his family and elderly parents, Yuvarajan is a student supported by his family, and Siva earns RM1,200 a month as a security guard, supporting his family.
Deputy public prosecutor Syairah Aqilah Khalil requested bail to be set at RM7,000 and for the accused to stay away from the victim until the case is resolved.
Mohamad Azlan set bail at RM7,000 for each accused with one surety each and ordered them to stay away from the victim and witnesses until the case is settled. The case mention is set for April 28.
In a separate magistrate's court, Veeran and Rohan were individually charged with impersonating police officers.
Both pleaded not guilty when the charge was read before Magistrate Nadratun Naim Mohd Saidi.
According to the charge sheets, Veeran and Rohan were accused of impersonating police officers at the same location and time.
They were charged under Section 170 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Rohan also pleaded not guilty to a third charge of possession of a fake plastic pistol, charged under Section 36 of the Arms Act 1960, which carries a maximum prison sentence of one year or a fine not exceeding RM5,000, or both if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor S. Preeya Darrsini requested appropriate bail for all three charges, while Puran urged for reduced bail considering the other charges.
Nadratun set bail at RM6,000 for each of the three charges with one surety each and set May 22 for case mention.
