SEREMBAN: Five suspects were charged separately at the Sessions Court here on Tuesday (Oct 7) for gang robbery and abetment involving the theft of 62 copper ingots belonging to a company.
Lorry drivers R. Uthayakumar, 34 and C.Narendran, 50, and unemployed V. Navendre Nair, 24, pleaded not guilty to committing gang robbery after the charge was read to them before Judge Surita Budin.
They were charged with committing the offence at around 6pm on Sept 27 along Jalan Seremban-Bukit Nenas near here.
They were charged under Section 395 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Two other suspects, self-employed G. Gartick, 39, and lorry driver S. Mithiran Nair, 30, were charged with abetting the trio.
They were charged with committing the offence at the same place and time.
The two were also charged under Section 395 of the Penal Code read together with Section 109 of the same legislation.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Nediahani Mohd Ideris then told the court the prosecution was offering the accused bail of RM20,000 each with one surety pending next mention.
She also asked that they be ordered to stay away from prosecution witnesses and to report at the nearest police station once a month till their case is disposed of.
Lawyer S. Karthigesan, who appeared for Gartick, Mithiran and Narendran, pleaded for a lower bail.
He said the trio did not earn much, had cooperated with the police and were not a flight risk.
The two others accused, who were unrepresented, also pleaded for lower bail.
Uthayakumar said he earned between RM3,000 and RM4,00o a month and had to provide for a sick mother while Navendre said he was unemployed and would be bailed by his fiance who worked as a clinic assistant.
Judge Surita then fixed bail at RM15,000 with one surety each. She also allowed the other applications by the prosecution.
The court then fixed Nov 10 for next mention.
