JOHOR BARU: Three men have been charged at the Magistrate's Court here with assaulting the vocalist of a punk band here using a rubbish bin.
Samsul Muarif M. Padal, 36; Mozlani Tukimon, 35; and Muhammad Ahnaf Ab Rahman, 34, initially pleaded guilty to the charge read before Magistrate Nabilah Nizam on Friday (May 16).
They were accused of committing the offence in a building on Jalan Wadi Hana here at around 10.30pm on Saturday (May 10).
According to the facts of the case, the three voluntarily caused hurt on 23-year-old victim Zaid Nazim Zainal Abidin using dangerous weapons or means, in this case, an aluminium rubbish bin.
The offence was framed under Section 324 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, or a fine, or caning, or any two of these punishments upon conviction.
However, after the facts of the case were read out, Mozlani and Muhammad Ahnaf changed their minds and pleaded not guilty and denied using the bin to hit the victim.
The Magistrate then rejected their earlier plea of guilt.
Deputy Public Prosecutor R. Nevina offered bail at RM10,000 for each accused.
National Legal Aid Foundation counsel Goh Poh Gek, who represented the trio, asked for lower bail, saying that Samsul Muarif is a bachelor, does not have a fixed income and has to take care of his ageing parents.
"Mozlani, also a bachelor, is taking care of his mother with a salary of RM2,000 as a factory worker,r while Muhammad Ahnaf is a divorcee with a child. He is a freelancer who earns about RM2,000 a month," she said, adding that this was also their first offence.
The court allowed bail at RM3,500 with one surety for each of the three men. The next mention has been set for June 17.
