KUALA LUMPUR: The man who pleaded guilty to assaulting journalist Haresh Deol will know his fate next year as his sentencing has been postponed by the Magistrate’s Court to January.
R. Krishnan, 37, had plead guilty to assaulting the founder of news website TwentyTwo13 after the charge was read out to him before magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan here yesterday.
The delivery man, who was charged together with another suspect, who is still at large, was accused of voluntarily causing hurt to Haresh, 43, in front of the Tanjung Balai Group building, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar.
The incident took place between 3.10pm and 3.32pm on Nov 25.
When asked to enter a plea, the accused pleaded guilty to the offence.
The charge was framed under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum one year imprisonment or fine of up to RM2,000, or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Hench Goh sought a different date for sentencing to prepare the statement of facts.
He proposed a bail of RM4,000 in one surety pending the next proceedings.
Meanwhile, lawyer Mohamad Salihen Mastor, who represented the accused, asked for a lower bail amount.
“My client works as a delivery runner and only makes RM40 per day. He has six children and his youngest is a one-year-old.
“His wife is present in court today. We ask for a lower bail,” Mohamad Salihen said.
Magistrate Illi Marisqa fixed bail at RM2,000. The court also set Jan 22 for sentencing.
Krishnan paid the bail.
On Tuesday, Haresh was assaulted by two individuals in Bangsar, with one of them recording the attack on a mobile phone.
The incident has been condemned by Gerakan Media Merdeka, the Sports Writers Association of Malaysia, National Union of Journalists Malaysia and the Football Association of Malaysia, with many expressing concern over the seemingly targeted attack of a journalist who was carrying out his duty.
However, Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said the suspect involved is believed to have targeted the wrong person.
He said initial investigations suggest the attack stemmed from a personal motive involving alleged harassment of the suspect’s wife.
